[Early reconstruction of supra-aortic vessels as a prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke].

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of supra-aortic vessels reconstruction within acute period of stroke.

Material And Methods: Early surgery was performed in 7 patients aged 67±9 years. Revascularization was made after 4.6 days after ischemic stroke on the average (range from 2 to 7 days). Neurological status before and after surgery was assessed using NIHSS scale, mean preoperative score was 3.9±2.7 (0-7). All patients had ischemic brain lesions (4-32 mm, mean 10 mm) unilateral with carotid stenosis or occlusion. Carotid artery stenting was performed in 2 patients, carotid endarterectomy - in 4 patients and stenting of segment I of the left subclavian artery was made in 1 case.

Results: There were no mortality and recurrent postoperative ischemic stroke. Complications occurred in two patients: postoperative hematoma and intraoperative transient ischemic attack that developed during CAS after 5 days of a stroke. There was positive neurological dynamics after revascularization: there was almost 2-fold decrease of mean score of neurological deficit (from 3.9±2.7±1.7 to 2).

Conclusion: Early surgical prevention of recurrent stroke (up to 7 days) can be performed effectively and safely in carefully selected patients with ischemic stroke (neurological deficit less than 3 Rankin scores and less than 7 NIHSS scores, ischemic lesion dimensions lass than 4 cm). Reconstruction of supra-aortic vessels in acute stage of stroke improves the neurological status and reduces the degree of motor and sensory disorders. However, currently there are no clear criteria for inclusion and exclusion of patients for early revascularization using both degree of neurological deficit and size of ischemic lesion. So our results need to be confirmed by large trials.