Is transcranial Doppler a worthwhile examination for preoperative evaluation of the Circle of Willis? Evaluation of 137 carotid endarterectomies performed under regional anesthesia.

Background: Transcranial Doppler is often proposed for evaluation of the Circle of Willis prior to carotid endarterectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate preoperative TCD before carotid surgery.

Methods: This is a retrospective report of 137 carotid endarterectomies performed under regional anesthesia operated between January 1992 on June 1996.

Aneurysm of a common celiomesenteric trunk.

Aneurysm of the celiac and/or superior mesenteric arteries are uncommon, accounting for 10% of visceral artery aneurysms. Aneurysms involving a common celiomesenteric trunk are extremely rare. Up to now only two cases have been reported.

Coronary-coronary bypass graft: an arterial conduit-sparing procedure.

From May 1989 to December 1995, 143 patients underwent myocardial revascularization with one (138 patients) or two (five patients) coronary-coronary bypass grafts in addition to other bypass grafts, for a total of 463 distal anastomoses (mean 3.2 +/- 0.6 per patient).

Experimental study of determinants of aneurysmal expansion of the abdominal aorta.

The natural history and the factors determining the expansion of aneurysms have not been elucidated. To study the respective roles of elastolysis, collagenolysis, inflammatory cells, and hypertension in the pathogenesis of aneurysms, two previously described in vivo experimental models were used. An isolated segment of the abdominal aorta was infused with 15 units of pancreatic elastase.