Aneurysms of the mid axillary artery in major league baseball pitchers—A report of two cases

AbstractTrue aneurysms of the axillary artery and its branches are rarely identified. Our recent experience with successful repairs of symptomatic aneurysms of the axillary arteries at the origin of the circumflex humeral arteries in 2 major league baseball pitchers suggests a condition that may be more common than recognized previously. We report this unique experience with baseball pitchers to focus attention on a condition that should be considered in all athletes with hand pain, numbness, or signs of digital ischemia. In addition, a schedule of rehabilitation and the timing of an appropriate return to competition is presented. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:702-7.

Statins Reduce Neurologic Injury in Asymptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Patients

Background and Purpose—Statins are neuroprotective in a variety of experimental models of cerebral injury. We sought to determine whether patients taking statins before asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy exhibit a lower incidence of neurological injury (clinical stroke and cognitive dysfunction). Methods—A total of 328 patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis scheduled for elective carotid endarterectomy consented to participate in this observational study of perioperative neurological injury. Results—Patients taking statins had a lower incidence of clinical stroke (0.0% vs 3.1%; P=0.02) and cognitive dysfunction (11.0% vs 20.2%; P=0.03). In a multivariate regression model, statin use was significantly associated with decreased odds of cognitive dysfunction (odds ratio, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.27–0.96]; P=0.04). Conclusions—Preoperative statin use was associated with less neurological injury after asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy. These observations suggest that it may be possible to further reduce the perioperative morbidity of carotid endarterectomy. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00597883   (Stroke. 2013;44: 1150-1152.