Aneurisma sintomático de arteria carótida interna

Los aneurismas de la arteria carótida extracraneal son raros y representan una minoría de la cirugía carotídea en la mayoría de las unidades vasculares. Se presenta un caso clínico de un aneurisma sacular de la arteria carótida interna en un paciente joven, sin causa aparente. La mayoría de estos aneurismas son asintomáticos, aunque, en este paciente debutó como ictus por embolización distal. El manejo consistió en un abordaje quirúrgico abierto a las 4 semanas tras el episodio inicial. En la intervención se extirpó el aneurisma con sutura termino-terminal de la arteria carótida interna. Aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery are rare and represent a minority of the carotid surgery in most vascular units. A clinical case of a saccular aneurism of the internal carotid artery, in a young patient without apparent cause, is showcased. They are often asymptomatic, but they also may show (as it was in this patient) stroke from distal embolisation as a debut. The management consisted in an open surgical approach (by meaning, aneurysm excision with termino-terminal. suture of the internal carotid artery, without shunt), 4 weeks after the initial episode

Carotid artery stenting in a single center, single operator, single type of device and 15 years of follow-up

Background: Revascularization with carotid stent (CAS) is considered the therapeutic alternative to endarterectomy (CEA). However, its role compared to CEA remains questioned, mainly due of the heterogeneity of long-term results. The objective of this study was to report the efficacy and durability of CAS in terms of stroke prevention in a “real world experience”. Method: This was a single-center retrospective analysis of 344 patients treated with CAS between January 2001 and December 2015. The primary outcome of the trial was stroke, myocardial infarction, or death during a periprocedural period or any stroke event over a 15-year follow-up. The secondary aim was to identify risk factors for 30-day complications, long-term neurological complications, and intra-stent restenosis. Results: The primary composite end point (any stroke, myocardial infarction, or death during the periprocedural period) was 2.3%. The use of an EPD was protective against major complications. Long-term follow-up was achieved in 294 patients (85,5%) with a median of 50 months (range 0-155 months). Fifty-six (16,3%) died within this period, most commonly of nonvascular causes (4 patients had stroke-related deaths). During the follow-up period, 8 strokes and 3 TIAs were diagnosed (3.2%). ISR determined by sequential ultrasound was assessed in 4.4% of the patients and remained asymptomatic in all but 2 patients (0.6%). All patients with restenosis underwent revascularization with balloon angioplasty. Conclusion: The long-term follow-up results of our study validate CAS as a safe and durable procedure with which to prevent ipsilateral stroke, with an acceptable rate of restenosis, recurrence and mortality

Adult Prevalence of Epilepsy in Spain: EPIBERIA, a Population-Based Study

Background. This study assesses the lifetime and active prevalence of epilepsy in Spain in people older than 18 years. Methods. EPIBERIA is a population-based epidemiological study of epilepsy prevalence using data from three representative Spanish regions (health districts in Zaragoza, Almería, and Seville) between 2012 and 2013. The study consisted of two phases: screening and confirmation. Participants completed a previously validated questionnaire (EPIBERIA questionnaire) over the telephone. Results. A total of 1741 valid questionnaires were obtained, including 261 (14.99%) raising a suspicion of epilepsy. Of these suspected cases, 216 (82.75%) agreed to participate in phase 2. Of the phase 2 participants, 22 met the International League Against Epilepsy’s diagnostic criteria for epilepsy. The estimated lifetime prevalence, adjusted by age and sex per 1,000 people, was 14.87 (95% CI: 9.8–21.9). Active prevalence was 5.79 (95% CI: 2.8–10.6). No significant age, sex, or regional differences in prevalence were detected. Conclusions. EPIBERIA provides the most accurate estimate of epilepsy prevalence in the Mediterranean region based on its original methodology and its adherence to ILAE recommendations. We highlight that the lifetime prevalence and inactive epilepsy prevalence figures observed here were compared to other epidemiological studies

Síndrome de isquemia ocular: manifestaciones clínicas, diagnóstico y evolución tras el tratamiento

El síndrome de isquemia ocular es causado por la hipoperfusión ocular crónica debido a estenosis u oclusión de arteria carótida común o interna ipsilateral. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 58 años con episodios de amaurosis fugax unilateral, exploración oftalmológica compatible con isquemia ocular crónica y estenosis severa de arteria carótida interna ipsilateral. Tras la angioplastia y stent de la zona de estenosis carotídea, los hallazgos resolvieron

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on ischemic stroke admissions and in-hospital mortality in North-West Spain

Background and purpose Spain has been one of the countries heavily stricken by COVID-19. But this epidemic has not affected all regions equally. We analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital stroke admissions and in-hospital mortality in tertiary referral hospitals from North-West Spain.Methods Spanish multicenter retrospective observational study based on data from tertiary hospitals of the NORDICTUS network. We recorded the number of patients admitted for ischemic stroke between 30 December 2019 and 3 May 2020, the number of IVT and EVT procedures, and in-hospital mortality.Results In the study period, 2737 patients were admitted with ischemic stroke. There was a decrease in the weekly mean admitted patients during the pandemic (124 vs. 173, p<0.001). In-hospital mortality of stroke patients increased significantly (9.9% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.003), but there were no differences in the proportion of IVT (17.3% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.405) or EVT (22% vs. 23%, p = 0.504).Conclusion We found a decrease in the number of ischemic stroke admissions and an increase in in-hospital mortality during the COVID-19 epidemic in this large study from North-West Spain. There were regional changes within the network, not fully explained by the severity of the pandemic in different regions.Peer reviewe