The effects of carotid artery stenting on short-term clinical outcomes and evaluation of restenosis

Objectives: Data on restenosis and long-term outcomes of carotid stenting are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate cardiovascular effects of carotid stenting on clinical outcome and restenosis in patients with symptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis.Materials and methods: Twenty patients (mean age: 68±7 years, 11 male) who have been decided to perform stenting in joint Committee of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Surgery and Neurology Clinics were included.Patients were evaluated both clinically and Doppler ultrasonographically for frequency of cardiovascular events and restenosis. Restenosis is defined as the reapperance of stenosis with a diameter reduction of ≥%50 with peak systolic velocity higher than 224 cm/s.Results: Comorbidities in patients were; coronary artery disease in 14, peripheral artery disease in three, and both chronic renal failure and congestive heart failure in two. Stent diameters were ranged from 6 to 8 mm, and stent lengths were 30 and 40 mm. During the procedure 5 patients had predilatation and 19 had postdilatation. None of the patients had >%30 resudial stenosis after the procedure. All procedures were technically successful. After the procedure only one transient ischemic attack was seen. There were no restenosis, myocardial infarction, death or stroke at 30th day end of the first year of follow up. Diabetes and heart failure were found as predictors for restenosis.Conclusion: In highly selected cases, carotid artery stenting is an effective and safe method in the short term. Restenosis did not seem to be a restricting problem for the success of carotid artery stentin

Decline in mean platelet volume in patients with patent foramen ovale undergoing percutaneous closure : cardiovascular topic

INTRODUCTION: The presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is considered a possible cause for cryptogenic stroke. The mechanism underlying the ischaemic neurological events in the presence of PFO has not been firmly established. The purpose of this study was to compare: (1) the mean platelet volume levels in PFO patients with and without a cryptogenic stroke, and (2) pre- and post-procedural mean platelet volumes (MPV) in patients undergoing percutaneous PFO closure. METHODS: Sixteen PFO patients undergoing percutaneous closure to prevent recurrent ischaemic events and 15 asymptomatic patients with PFO were enrolled in the study. Mean platelet volume was compared between patients with and without a history of stroke. We also compared pre- and postprocedural MPV levels in patients undergoing percutaneous PFO closure. RESULTS: Mean platelet volume, which is a marker for platelet activity, was similar in PFO patients with and without stroke (9.34 ± 1.64 vs 9.1 ± 1.34 fl; p = 0.526). Interestingly, MPV decreased significantly after percutaneous closure compared to pre-procedural levels (9.34 ± 1.64 vs 8.3 ± 1.12 fl; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest interatrial communication through a PFO may be related to increased MPV and increased platelet activity