Occlusive disease of first segment of vertebral artery is the common cause for insufficient supply of vertebro-basilar artery. The good result following reconstruction of vertebral artery was confirmed, but the long-term result was not certain. In order to investigate the long-term result, 23 dogs with established model of VA occlusion were studied. The occlusion was reconstructed by a by-pass operation between the common carotid artery and VA, then the quantitative methods were used to monitor the results for 3 months following operation. The results showed that 1. according to DSA, the anastomosis remained potent and the collateral circulations were established; 2. the hemodynamics of blood flow in VA kept well and the blood supply was stable by color ultrasonic Doppler; 3. the blood supply of cerebellum was increased 15.86% compared with that observed just after operation by hydrogen clearance method; and 4. no infarction focus was founded from MRI. The conclusion was that the result suggested that the long term result demonstrated was satisfactory after VA reconstruction for occlusive disease and the blood supply of the cerebellum was also better than that just following operation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of anatomical variations of the isolated left vertebral artery (ILVA) on clinical outcomes and imaging outcomes in patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with TBAD in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2016 to December 2023 were collected, and the differences of clinical outcomes and imaging outcomes between patients with and without ILVA were compared. ResultsBased on the inclusion criteria and the result of propensity score-based matching, 82 patients with TBAD were included, including 17 patients with ILVA (ILVA group) and 65 patients without ILVA (control group). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the radiological and surgical information (P>0.05). The median time of the follow-up for these 82 patients were 37 months, during which there were no significant differences in aortic-related death, aortic event, stroke, adverse aortic remodeling, type Ⅰ A endoleak, and retrograde progression between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the re-intervention rate [HR=2.56, 95%CI (1.55, 8.11), P=0.03] and the incidence of type Ⅱ internal leakage [OR=1.36, 95%CI (1.08, 2.11), P=0.04] in the ILVA group were higher. ConclusionsNo significant differences were observed for ILVA patients in terms of serious adverse events such as aortic-related death and retrograde progression, comparing with the patients with normal aortic arch. However, the patients with ILVA were more susceptible to complications such as reintervention and type Ⅱ endoleak, which warranted the necessity of intensive postoperative follow-up for these patients.
In the variation of vertebral artery in artery groove, high-riding vertebral artery is the most common. High-riding vertebral artery can affect the choice of internal fixation device for upper cervical spine surgery, and may lead to serious complications such as vertebral artery injury and even death. In recent years, great progress has been made in the concept, incidence, diagnostic techniques, classification and impact on upper cervical spine surgery of high-riding vertebral artery. This review summarizes the above contents in order to improve clinicians’ understanding of high-riding vertebral artery, and provide a reference for timely diagnosis of high-riding vertebral artery, make an appropriate plan for upper cervical cervical spine surgical fixation, and reduce surgical complications.
ObjectiveTo explore the application value of thin CT angiography (CTA) of pedicle sagittal plane of axis for preoperative evaluation planning pedicle screw placement.MethodsBetween February 2016 and August 2017, 34 patients (68 pedicles) who underwent thin CTA scan before posterior axial surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The vertebral artery development was statistically analyzed. The continuous layers of transverse process hole pedicle height more than or equal to 4 mm (f) were measured and read. The axial fixation methods, clinical manifestations of vertebral artery and spinal cord injury and the bone union of fractures or implants were recorded. Postoperative results of pedicle screws were evaluated by CT scan.ResultsThe right sides of 8 cases and the left sides of 18 cases were dominant vertebral arteries, and equilibrium was reached in 8 cases; f>9 layers were found in 16 pedicles,f=9 layers in 27 pedicles, f=8 layers in 17 pedicles, and f<8 layers in 8 pedicles. The 43 pedicles off≥9 layers used pedicle screw fixation; in the 17 pedicles of f=8 layers, 16 used pedicle screw fixation, and the other one used laminar screw fixation; in the 8 pedicles of f<8 layers, 4 used pedicle screw fixation, and the other 4 used laminar screw fixation. A self-defined pedicle screw grading system was used to evaluate the excellence, and the result showed that,f>9 layers: 14 pedicles were class A, 2 were class B, none was class C;f=9 layers: 16 pedicles were class A, 7 were class B, 4 were class C; f=8 layers: 3 pedicles were class A, 5 were class B, 8 were class C; f<8 layers: none was pedicles class A or class B, 4 were class C. The other 4 lamina screws fixation didn’'t invade the spinal canal. One case of pedicle class C showed clinical manifestations of mild dizziness and drowsiness. The patients were followed up for 6-11 months with an average of (8±3) months, and the fracture or bone graft fusion were observed after 6 months of following-up.ConclusionBased on preoperative CTA thin layer scanning, through measuring and reading continuous layers of transverse process hole pedicle height more than or equal to 4 mm, can effectively judge the security of axial pedicle screws in order to subsequently choose the reasonable operation methods so as to improve success rate and decrease surgical risk.
Objective To approach the effect of neck hyperextension position on hemodynamics of vertebral artery following thyroidectomy， and analyze the correlation between the change of hemodynamics and nausea and vomiting. Methods One hundred and fifty-eight patients with preparing for thyroidectomy （thyroidectomy group） and 89 patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy （LC， LC group） were selected. The anesthesia method and the anesthesia drugs were the same in two groups. The indexes of hemodynamics of the bilateral vertebral artery at 6 h before and after thyroidectomy were measured. The difference of nausea and vomiting was observed and compared in two groups. Results The average blood flow velocity of the bilateral vertebral artery reduced and the blood flow decreased at 6 h after thyroidectomy as compared with at 6 h before thyroidectomy （P＜0.05）. The rates of nausea and vomiting of 0，2， 3， 4 times in the thyroidectomy group were significantly higher than those in the LC group （P＜0.05， P＜0.01）. The durations of nausea and vomiting of 1， 2， 3， 4 times in the thyroidectomy group were also significantly longer than those in the LC group （P＜0.01）. There was a positive correlation between the nausea and vomiting and the changes of blood flow velocity or blood flow （change of blood flow velocity：rs=0.697， P=0.03；change of blood flow：rs=0.897， P=0.01）. Conclusions There is a certain effect of the neck hyperextension position on hemodynamics of the bilatreal vertebral artery， and which might affect the nausea and vomiting following thyroidectomy.
【摘要】 目的 观察自发性椎动脉夹层（sVAD）的临床特点及预后。 方法 对2009年1月-2010年1月收治的15例经核磁共振血管成像和数字减影血管造影证实的sVAD患者，进行危险因素、临床表现、影像学特征、治疗及预后的全面分析。 结果 15例sVAD患者，男10例，女5例；平均年龄40岁。12例有同侧头部、后颈部疼痛；13例发生后循环缺血性卒中，表现为延髓背外侧综合征者8例；14例给予抗凝治疗，1例予抗血小板治疗。随访6~12个月，MRS评分5例0分，9例1分，1例2分。 结论 sVAD发病年龄较轻，男性居多。临床多表现为后循环缺血及后枕部或颈部疼痛，预后较好。【Abstract】 Objective To observe the clinical manifestation and prognosis in patients with spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD). Methods Clinical data of 15 patients with sVAD who were confirmed by MRA and DSA from January 2009 to January 2010 were analyzed on risk factors,clinical symptoms,imaging features,treatment and 6-12 months prognosis. Results The patients were ten males and five females,with the average age of 40 years old. Twelve patients had pain in homolateral head and neck. Thirteen patients had stroke in posterior circulation, among which eight showed Wallenberg Syndrome. Anticoagulant therapy was given in 14 patients and antiplatelet treatment in one. Within 6-12 months follow-up, MRS scores were zero in five patients, one in nine patients, and two in one patient. Conclusion sVAD often occurres in young people, and mainly in men. Stroke in posterior circulation and pain are easily seen in sVAD, and most of them have favorable outcome.
Objective To investigate the influence of axis pedicle and intra-axial vertebral artery (IAVA) alignment on C2 pedicle screw placement by measuring the data of head and neck CT angiography. MethodsThe axis pedicle diameter (D), isthmus height (H), isthmus thickness (T), and IAVA alignment types were measured in 116 patients (232 sides) who underwent head and neck CT angiography examinations between January 2020 and June 2020. Defined the IAVA offset direction by referencing the vertical line through the center of C3 transverse foramen on the coronal scan, it was divided into lateral (L), neutral (N), and medial (M). Defined the IAVA high-riding degree by referencing the horizontal line through the outlet of the C2 transverse foramen, it was divided into below (B), within (W), and above (A). The rate of pedicle stenosis, high-riding vertebral artery, and different IAVA types were calculated, and their relationships were analysed. Simulative C2 pedicle screws were implanted by Mimics 19.0 software, and the interrelation among the rates of pedicle stenosis, high-riding vertebral artery, IAVA types, and vertebral artery injury were analyzed. ResultsThe rate of C2 pedicle stenosis was 33.6% (78/232), and the rate of high-riding vertebral artery was 35.3% (82/232). According to the offset direction and the degree of riding, IAVA was divided into 9 types, among which the N-W type (29.3%) was the most, followed by the L-W type (19.0%) and the L-B type (12.9%), accounting for 60.9%. The vertebral artery injury rate of simulative implanted C2 pedicle screws was 35.3% (82/232). The vertebral artery injury rate in patients with pedicle stenosis and high-riding vertebral artery was significantly higher than that who were not (P<0.001). The rate of pedicle stenosis, high-riding vertebral artery, and vertebral artery injury were significantly different among IAVA types (P<0.001), and M-A type was the most common. ConclusionVertebral artery injury is more common in pedicle stenosis and/or high-riding vertebral artery and/or IAVA M-A type. Preoperative head and neck CT angiography examination has clinical guiding significance.
Objective To investigate the surgical approach and efficacy of reconstruction of the isolated left vertebral artery (ILVA) in single upper hemisternotomy for total aortic arch replacement. Methods From March 2017 to October 2023, patients who underwent total aortic arch replacement under single upper hemisternotomy in General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were selected. According to the presence of ILVA, they were divided into a conventional group and an ILVA group. All the ILVA group underwent intraoperative ILVA reconstruction. The perioperative clinical data between two groups were compared. Results A total of 504 patients were collected, including 471 males and 31 females, with an average age of 50.4±11.4 years. There was no increase in the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass or postoperative hospitalization in the ILVA group (n=31) compared to the conventional group (n=473), and the rates of perioperative complications and in-hospital mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. There were 2 (6.45%) patients of acute cerebral infarction and 2 (6.45%) patients of perioperative death in the ILVA group, with no spinal cord injuries. Conclusion ILVA reconstruction during total aortic arch replacement in single upper hemisternotomy is feasible, safe, and effective, and prioritizing off pump ILVA-left common carotid artery transposition.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of endovascular covered stent on vertebral dissecting aneurysm and carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF). Methods From March 2006 to May 2007, Jostent coronary stent grafts were used to treat 4 patients with vertebral dissecting aneurysm and 3 patients with CCF. The patients of vertebral dissecting aneurysmwere male and 37-57 years old, the lesion was located on the left vertebral artery in 3 patients and on the right vertebral artery in 1 patient, with the primary symptoms of sudden headache and vomiting; CT scan demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage; and the medical history varied from 2 days to 10 years. The patients of CCF were male and 35-51 years old, the lesion was located on the left carotid artery in 2 patients and on the right carotid artery in 1 patient, with the primary symptoms of headache, lateral exophthalmos, eyeball distending pain, conjunctive hyperemia and impaired eyesight; all 3 patients got head injury 2 days to 1 month before the appearance of symptoms and 1 of them had a history of severe nosebleed; and the medical history ranged from 1 week to 2 months. Results For the patients with vertebral dissecting aneurysm, complete obl iteration of aneurysms was achieved, the circulations of the vertebral artery, the adjacent posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the adjacent anterior inferior cerebellar artery were smooth, no compl ications relative to operation occurred, and no recurrence of symptoms and intracranial rehaemorrhagia were observed during the follow-up period of 8 months-2 years. For the patients with CCF, the fistula were completely obl iterated, the circulation of carotid artery was smooth, the exophthalmus and conjunctiva hyperemia were improved obviously 3 days after operation, the eyesight of patient was improved at different levels over the follow-up period of 1-3 months. Conclusion Endovascular covered stent is a new and useful tool for the treatment of vertebral dissecting aneurysm and CCF .
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of surgical treatment of vertebral artery stenosis and to summarize the experience.MethodThe clinical data of 6 patients undergoing surgical treatment from September 2018 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAll the procedures were successfully performed without intraoperative cerebral infarction, injury of thoracic duct or nerve disconnection by mistake. The operative time was 120 to 270 minutes, the median was 180 minutes. The blood loss was 50 to 150 milliliters, and the median was 65 milliliters. One patient suffered from Horner’s syndrome after the operation. One patient suffered from cerebral infarction on 4 days after the operation. During the follow-up of 3–10 months, three patients felt dizziness relieved and there were no anastomotic stricture or new cerebral infarction happened.ConclusionsSurgical treatment is safeand effective for vertebral artery stenosis. Revascularization of the carotid and vertebral arteries at the same time shouldbe avoided.