M. Staneva, Ts. Tsvetanov, V. Chervenkoff, D. Markov, P. Antova
Department of Vascular Surgery and Angiology, Tokuda Hospital – Sofia, Bulgaria
Objective: To examine native carotid artery without stenosis and carotid artery after endarterectomy (CEA) without restenosis by Color-coded Duplex Ultrasound (CDU) in men, to compare the ultrasound findings and derive ultrasound criteria for postoperative follow-up.
Materials and Methods: We have followed-up two groups of patients: first group - 40 men, mean aged 66,8 years who had CEA mean 2,1 years. Second – group of controls – 40 men, mean aged 68,3 years without cerebrovascular desease. We have evaluated the diameter of the arteries (mm) (common carotid artery (CCA), bifurcation of the CCA (CCAbif), distal internal carotid artery (ICAdist); beginning, center and end of the patch), the peak systolic (PSV) and the end diastolic (EDV) velocities (cm/s) at the same points by using CDU.
Results: We found the following mean diameters: CCA - 7,1 mm, CCA after CEA - 7,7 mm; CCAbif - 8,1 mm, center of the patch – 11,5 mm; ICAdist – 5,1 mm, ICAdist after CEA – 6 mm (p>0.05). PSVmean (CCA)=64,61 cm/s; PSVmean (CCA after CEA)=61,7 cm/s; EDVmean (native CCA)=18,38 cm/s; EDVmean (CCA after CEA)=13,55 cm/s); PSVmean (CCAbif)=61,39 cm/s; PSVmean (center of the patch)=57,41 cm/s; EDVmean (CCAbif)=18,61 cm/s; EDVmean (center of the patch)=12,04 cm/s; PSVmean (ICAdist)=84,96 cm/s; PSVmean (ICAdist after CEA)=88,97 cm/s; EDVmean (ICA dist)=27,68 cm/s; EDVmean (ICAdist after CEA)=29,87 cm/s, (p>0.05).
Discussion: Color-coded Duplex ultrasound is a very accurate, noninvasive method that can be repeated at any time for grading carotid stenosis. This research have shown that there is no statistically significant difference in ultrasound findings between native carotid artery without stenosis and carotid artery after CEA without restenosis. Ultrasound criteria for evaluation of native carotid artery can be applied in following-up after CEA.
Key words: carotid endarterectomy, color-coded duplex ultrasound.