Two-Stage Cerebral Hemodynamic Changes in Staged Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting

Abstract

We sought to assess the different patterns of cerebral hemodynamic changes in staged carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). We prospectively recruited a cohort of patients with regular angioplasty or staged angioplasty from October 2013 to August 2015. The hemodynamic changes, including peak systolic, end-diastolic, and mean flow velocities in the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the contralateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA), were recorded by transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Between October 2013 to August 2015, 25 patients (age range from 48 to 78 years, 96% male) with CAS were recruited, of whom 13 patients received staged angioplasty and 12 patients received regular angioplasty. Patients in the staged angioplasty group showed a higher degree of stenosis in the internal carotid artery. After the procedure, the peak systolic, diastolic, and mean flow velocities in the ipsilateral MCA in the staged angioplasty group were significantly higher than those in the regular angioplasty group (P = .028, .036, and .027, respectively). In the staged angioplasty group, first, the peak systolic, end-diastolic, and mean flow velocities in the contralateral ACA decreased significantly soon after balloon dilation in stage I (P = .042, .033, and .034, respectively). Second, the peak systolic, diastolic, and mean flow velocities in the ipsilateral MCA increased after stent placement in stage II (P = .006, .042, and .003, respectively). Two-stage hemodynamic changes were observed in staged angioplasty. The velocities in the ipsilateral MCA started to increase significantly after the collateral flow diminished.