[Are brain-protective measures in the reconstruction of extracranial vascular occlusions necessary?]

Surgical reconstruction in extracranial vascular occlusions with a healing chance of 80 per cent and a mortality rate of 1 to 4 per cent in stage II after Vollmar has well established itself. The indication for reconstruction and the surgical technique are to a large extent standardised. The question of brain-protective measures during the intervention is still open. At the Surgical Clinic of the Medical Academy Magdeburg 74 vascular reconstructions were carried out in the period from 1975 to 1980. Only when multiple occlusions or stenoses were found, the intraluminal shunt technique was employed as a brain-protective measure in six patients. Postoperative neurological complications were only found in two patients in the form of a transient hemiparesis. The late results after five years showed during or an improvement of the complaints in 50 per cent. The total mortality during the observation period was II per cent. We are of the opinion that brain-protective measures in the reconstruction of extracranial vascular regions need not be employed as a routine measure.