Neuropsychological consequences of endarterectomy and endovascular angioplasty with stent placement for treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis: a prospective randomised study.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies compared carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stent placement (CAS) for treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Whereas most previous studies showed both treatment modalities to be associated with a comparable risk of periprocedural cerebrovascular complications, these previous studies have shown significantly more microemboli and significantly more lesions in diffusion-weighted MR imaging after CAS compared to CEA. The clinical relevance of these differences remains unknown.

Mid-term results after endovascular stent-grafting of descending aortic aneurysms in high-risk patients.

Purpose: To analyze our experience with endovascular stent-grafting of descending aortic aneurysms in high-risk patients.

Methods: Nineteen patients underwent endovascular stent-graft repair of descending aortic aneurysms using the Talent Stent Graft System (Medtronic). All patients were considered high-risk for open surgical repair due to their age, requirement for emergency surgery, and comorbidities.

Endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: feasibility and impact on early outcome.

Purpose: Open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) still has a high associated mortality rate. The impact of the introduction of endovascular treatment on the early outcomes of ruptured AAAs was examined at a single institution. The suitability of acute endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients with ruptured AAAs was also assessed.

Stent-graft repair versus open surgery for the descending aorta: a case-control study.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of open surgery versus endovascular repair in patients with pathologies of the descending thoracic aorta (DTA).

Methods: This retrospective study included 44 patients (28 men; mean age 68+/-12 years, range 37-86) treated for DTA pathologies between 1995 and 2003. Twenty-two patients (15 men; mean age 68+/-13 years, range 37-86) undergoing stent-graft implantation were matched for sex, age, emergency operation, and comorbidities (coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) with a 22-patient contemporaneous surgical cohort (13 men; mean age 69+/-11 years, range 41-80).

Coronary artery bypass surgery in diabetic patients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. This study examines the impact of diabetes on mortality and morbidity following coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 590 consecutive patients after coronary artery bypass grafting in 1998.

A rapid-exchange monorail stent system for salvage of failing femoropopliteal bypass grafts.

Purpose: To analyze the safety and effectiveness of a new monorail stent system for the treatment of failing femoropopliteal bypass grafts.

Technique: Acute distal occlusions or stenoses of femoropopliteal bypass grafts were treated with balloon-expandable stents (13 or 18-mm diameter) pre-mounted on a monorail balloon catheter system. The delivery system was assessed subjectively for (1).

Experience on endothelial cell adhesion on vascular stents and stent-grafts: first in vitro results.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate endothelial cell (EC) attachment on different stents and stent-grafts combined with different coating materials.

Materials And Methods: Three segments (approximately 1cm(2) each) of Cragg-, Memotherm-, Palmaz-, Strecker-, and Wall-stents, uncovered or covered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane (PU) or polyester (Dacron) were precoated with fibronectin and seeded in vitro under steady conditions with 2 x 10(5) human venous EC/cm(2) for 2 days. EC attachment and morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy.