Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Clinical Trial
Endovascular cooling for moderate hypothermia in patients with acute stroke: first results of a novel approach.
We undertook this study to evaluate the feasibility of inducing and maintaining moderate hypothermia with the use of endovascular rather than surface cooling. ⋯ Induction and maintenance of hypothermia with an intravenous cooling device are feasible. The safety of this approach remains to be evaluated.
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Why is carotid plaque often so strikingly asymmetrical within individuals, and why does the extent of disease vary so considerably between individuals with similar systemic risk factors? Variability of carotid bifurcation anatomy is a possible explanation. Flow models suggest that vessel anatomy, in particular vessel diameter and area ratios, affects plaque formation at arterial bifurcations. However, carotid bifurcation anatomy could only be a major risk factor for plaque formation if it was sufficiently variable. Since very few data exist on the extent of interindividual and intraindividual variability of bifurcation anatomy, we studied 5395 angiograms from the European Carotid Surgery Trial. ⋯ We found large interindividual differences in carotid bifurcation anatomy. For example, there was 4-fold variation of the ratio of outflow to inflow area. Intraindividual variation was also considerable. These data highlight the potential importance of anatomic variation as a risk factor for atheroma and provide a firm basis for flow modeling studies.
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Both hypothermia and decompressive craniectomy (DC) have been shown to reduce ischemic injury in experimental middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of combined DC and hypothermia on infarction size and neurological outcome in a rat model of MCA occlusion (MCAO). ⋯ Early DC significantly reduces infarction size and improves neurological outcome in MCA infarction in rats. Temporary mild hypothermia delays infarct evolution but does not significantly reduce definite infarction size or improve neurological outcome. Combined hypothermia and DC yield significant additional benefit.