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SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION
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2. Captopril—Captopril, 12.5–25 mg orally, lowers blood
pressure in 15–30 minutes. The response is variable and may be excessive. Captopril is the drug of choice for treat­ing systemic sclerosis hypertensive crisis.
3. Nifedipine—The effect of fast-acting nifedipine cap­sules is unpredictable and may be excessive, resulting in hypotension and reflex tachycardia. Because MI and stroke have been reported in this setting, the use of sublingual nifedipine is not advised. Nifedipine retard, 20 mg orally, appears to be safe and effective.
C. Subsequent Therapy
When the blood pressure has been brought under control, combinations of oral antihypertensive agents can be added as parenteral drugs are tapered off over a period of 2–3 days.
Rossi GP et al. Modern management of hypertensive emergen-
cies. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2022;29:33. [PMID: 34813055]
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Blood Vessel & Lymphatic Disorders
Warren J. Gasper, MD James C. Iannuzzi, MD, MPH Meshell D. Johnson, MD
º
ATHEROSCLEROTIC PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE
Occlusive atherosclerotic lesions in the extremities, or peripheral artery disease (PAD), is evidence of a systemic atherosclerotic process. The prevalence of PAD is 30% in patients who are 70 years old without other risk factors, or 50 years old with risk factors such as diabetes mellitus or tobacco use. Pathologic changes of atherosclerosis may be diffuse, but flow-limiting stenoses occur segmentally. In the lower extremities, stenoses classically occur in three anatomic segments: the aortoiliac segment, femoral­popliteal segment, and the infrapopliteal or tibial segment of the arterial tree.
OCCLUSIVE DISEASE: AORTA & ILIAC ARTERIES
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Claudication: cramping pain or tiredness in the calf, thigh, or hip while walking.
»
Diminished femoral pulses.
»
Tissue loss (ulceration, gangrene) or rest pain.
only leg weakness when walking, or extreme limb fatigue. The symptoms are relieved with rest and are reproducible when the patient walks again. Femoral pulses and distal pulses are absent or very weak. Bruits may be heard over the aorta, iliac, and femoral arteries.
B. Doppler and Vascular Findings
By Doppler examination, the ratio of systolic blood pres­sure at the ankle compared with the brachial artery (ankle­brachial index [ABI]) is reduced to below 0.9 (normal ratio is 0.9–1.2); this difference is exaggerated by exercise. Both the dorsalis pedis and the posterior tibial arteries are mea­sured and the higher of the two artery pressures is used for calculation. Segmental waveforms or pulse volume record­ings obtained by strain gauge technology through blood pressure cuffs demonstrate blunting of the arterial wave­form throughout the lower extremity.
C. Imaging
CT angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiogra­phy (MRA) can identify the anatomic location of disease. Due to overlying bowel gas, duplex ultrasonography has limited utility for aortoiliac imaging. Imaging is required only when symptoms necessitate intervention, since a history and physical examination with vascular testing can locate the involved levels of the arterial tree.
» General Considerations
Lesions in the distal aorta and proximal common iliac arteries classically occur in White men aged 50–60 years who smoke cigarettes. Disease progression may lead to complete occlusion of one or both common iliac arteries, which can precipitate occlusion of the entire abdominal aorta to the level of the renal arteries.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
The pain from aortoiliac lesions may extend into the thigh and buttocks and erectile dysfunction may occur with bilateral common iliac disease. Rarely, patients experience
» Treatment
A. Medical and Exercise Therapy
The cornerstones of aortoiliac disease treatment are car­diovascular risk factor reduction and an exercise program.
1. Risk factor reduction—Essential elements include cigarette smoking cessation, antiplatelet therapy, weight loss, and lipid and blood pressure management. Nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, varenicline, and coun­seling have established benefits in cigarette smoking ces­sation (see Chapter 1). While no longer recommended for primary prevention of CVD, antiplatelet agents (aspi­rin [81 mg orally daily] or clopidogrel [75 mg orally daily]) are important for secondary prevention of cardio­vascular events in those with PAD and to reduce
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peripheral vascular morbidity. Low-dose rivaroxaban (2.5 mg orally twice daily) with aspirin 81 mg orally daily reduces major cardiovascular and limb-related adverse events in symptomatic patients. All patients with PAD should receive a high-dose statin (eg, atorvastatin 80 mg daily if tolerated) to treat hypercholesterolemia and arte­rial inflammation. Cilostazol, 100 mg orally twice a day, improves walking distance in approximately two-thirds of patients but may take 2–4 weeks to be effective and 12 weeks until full effect.
2. Exercise programs—Supervised exercise programs for PAD provide significant improvements in pain, walking distance, and quality of life and may be more effective than endovascular treatment alone. A minimum training goal is a walking session of 30–45 minutes at least 3 days per week for a minimum of 12 weeks. Structured community or home-based exercise programs as well as alternative exer­cises (cycling, upper-body ergometry) may also be effec­tive. Digital apps show promise in pilot studies to improve walking distance and patients coping with their disease.
B. Endovascular Therapy
Focal atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta or iliac arteries can be effectively treated with angioplasty and stenting, matching the results of surgery for single stenoses, but effectiveness and durability decrease with longer or multi­ple stenoses.
C. Surgical Intervention
A prosthetic aortofemoral bypass graft that bypasses the diseased aorta or iliac artery segments is a highly effective and durable treatment. Patients may also be treated with a graft from the axillary artery to the femoral arteries (axil­lofemoral bypass graft) or with a graft from the contralat­eral femoral artery (femoral–femoral bypass) when iliac disease is unilateral. The operative risk of axillofemoral and femoral–femoral bypass grafts is lower because the abdom­inal cavity is not entered and the aorta is not cross­clamped, but the grafts are less durable.
» Complications
The complications of aortofemoral bypass are those of any major abdominal surgery in a patient population with a high prevalence of CVD. Mortality is low (2–3%), but mor­bidity is higher and includes a 5–10% rate of MI. While endovascular approaches are safer and the complication rate is 1–3%, they are less durable with extensive disease.
» Prognosis
Patients with isolated aortoiliac disease may have a further reduction in walking distance without intervention, but symptoms rarely progress to rest pain or limb threat. Life expectancy is limited by attendant CVD, with 5-year mor­tality of 25–40%.
Symptomatic relief is generally excellent with super­vised exercise or after intervention. Aortofemoral bypass 5-year patency is 90%. In short stenoses, endovascular patency and symptom relief also are good, with 80% of
patients symptom free at 3 years. In more extensive disease, recurrence rates increase to 30–50%.
» When to Refer
Patients with progressive reduction in walking distance despite risk factor modification, consistent exercise, or limitations that interfere with activities of daily living should be referred for vascular surgical evaluation.
» When to Admit
• Patients with acute limb ischemia for treatment with intravenous anticoagulation, pain control, and surgical evaluation.
• Patients with evidence of chronic limb-threatening ischemia, including lower extremity rest pain and tissue loss, since these may quickly progress to amputation of the foot or leg.
Bonaca M P et al. Rivaroxaban in peripheral artery disease after
revascularization. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1994. [PMID: 32222135]
Dittman JM et al. Medical optimization of the peripheral artery
disease patient. Semin Vasc Surg. 2022;35:113. [PMID: 35672101]
OCCLUSIVE DISEASE: FEMORAL & POPLITEAL ARTERIES
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Cramping pain or tiredness in the calf with exercise.
»
Reduced popliteal and pedal pulses.
»
Foot pain at rest, relieved by dependency.
»
Foot gangrene or ischemic ulcers.
» General Considerations
The superficial femoral artery is the peripheral artery most commonly occluded by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis of the femoral-popliteal segment usually occurs about a decade after the development of aortoiliac disease, has an even gender distribution, and commonly affects Black and Latino/Latina patients. The disease frequently occurs where the superficial femoral artery passes through the abductor magnus tendon in the distal thigh (Hunter canal). The common femoral artery and the popliteal artery are less often diseased but lesions in these vessels are debilitat­ing, resulting in short-distance claudication.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms of intermittent claudication caused by lesions of the common femoral artery, superficial femoral artery, and popliteal artery are confined to the calf. Claudication
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occurs at 2–4 blocks when there is occlusion or stenosis of the superficial femoral artery at the adductor canal, pro­vided good collateral vessels from the profunda femoris are maintained. However, with concomitant disease of the profunda femoris or the popliteal artery, much shorter distances may trigger symptoms. With short-distance claudication, dependent rubor of the foot may be present; pallor on elevation distinguishes rubor from erythema. Chronic low blood flow states will also cause atrophic changes in the lower leg and foot with loss of hair, thinning of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, and disuse atrophy of the muscles. With segmental occlusive disease of the superficial femoral artery, the common femoral pulsation is normal, but the popliteal and pedal pulses are reduced.
B. Doppler and Vascular Findings
ABI values less than 0.9 are diagnostic of PAD and levels below 0.4 coincide with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (formerly critical limb ischemia). ABI readings depend on arterial compression; since vessels may be calcified in diabe­tes mellitus, CKD, and in older adults, ABIs can be mislead­ing. In such patients, the toe-brachial index is usually reliable with a value less than 0.7 considered diagnostic of PAD. Pulse volume recordings with cuffs placed at the high thigh, mid-thigh, calf, and ankle will delineate the levels of obstruction with reduced pressures and blunted waveforms.
C. Imaging
Duplex ultrasonography, CTA, and MRA all adequately show the anatomic location of the obstructive lesions and are performed only if revascularization is planned. After revascularization, patients can be monitored with annual ultrasonograms.
2. Endovascular techniques—Endovascular techniques, such as angioplasty and stenting, are often used for lesions in the superficial femoral artery. These techniques have lower morbidity than bypass surgery but also have decreased durability and may limit future options for bypass.
Endovascular therapy is most effective in patients undergoing aggressive risk factor modification in whom lesions measure less than 10 cm long. Paclitaxel-eluting stents or paclitaxel-coated balloons offer modest improve­ment over bare metal stents and noncoated balloons. The 1-year patency rate is 50% for balloon angioplasty, 70% for drug-coated balloons, 80% for bare metal stents, and 90% for drug-eluting stents. However, by 3 years, patency is significantly worse than bypass for all four techniques and reintervention for restenosis is common. While a meta­analysis of clinical trial data showed increased mortality at 3–5 years after treatment with paclitaxel-coated devices, subsequent analyses in the SWEDEPAD and VOYAGER PAD trials found no mortality difference between drug­coated devices and angioplasty.
3. Thromboendarterectomy—Removal of the atheroscle­rotic plaque is limited to common femoral and profunda femoris artery lesions where endovascular techniques have limited efficacy.
» Complications
Open surgical procedures of the lower extremities, particu­larly long bypasses with vein harvest, have a risk of wound infection that is higher than in other areas of the body. Wound infection or seroma can occur in as many as 10–15% of cases. MI rates after open surgery are 5–10%, with 1–4% mortality. Complication rates of endovascular surgery are 1–5%, mak­ing these therapies attractive despite their lower durability.
» Treatment
A. Medical and Exercise Therapy
As with aortoiliac disease, risk factor reduction, medical optimization with an antiplatelet agent, high-dose statin, and exercise treatment are the cornerstone of therapy and can reduce 5-year mortality by two-thirds. Dual treatment with rivaroxaban (2.5 mg orally twice daily) and aspirin (81 mg orally daily) reduces limb-related events, major amputation, and cardiovascular events. Cilostazol, 100 mg orally twice a day, may improve intermittent claudication symptoms.
B. Surgical Intervention
Intervention is indicated if claudication is progressive, is incapacitating, or interferes significantly with activities of daily living, employment, or quality of life. Intervention is critical if there is ischemic rest pain or if ischemic ulcers threaten the foot.
1. Bypass surgery—The most effective and durable treat­ment for superficial femoral artery lesions is a femoral­popliteal bypass with autologous saphenous vein. Synthetic material, usually polytetrafluoroethylene, can be used, but these grafts do not have the durability of single segment vein bypass.
» Prognosis
The prognosis for motivated patients with isolated superficial femoral artery disease is excellent, and surgery is not recom­mended for mild or moderate claudication in these patients. However, when claudication significantly limits daily activity and cardiovascular health, intervention may be warranted. All interventions require close postprocedure follow-up with repeated ultrasound surveillance so that recurrent narrowing can be detected and treated promptly with angioplasty or bypass to prevent complete occlusion. The reported 3-year patency rate of bypass grafts of the femoral artery, superficial femoral artery, and popliteal artery is 65–70%, whereas the patency of angioplasty is less than 50%.
Because of the extensive atherosclerotic disease, includ­ing associated coronary lesions, 5-year survival with lower extremity PAD is 70% and decreases to 50% when there is involvement of the tibial arteries. However, with aggressive risk factor modification, substantial improvement in longevity has been reported.
» When to Refer
Patients with progressive symptoms, short-distance claudi­cation, rest pain, or any ulceration should be referred to a peripheral vascular specialist.
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» When to Admit
Individuals with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (eg, ischemic rest pain, tissue loss) warrant admission because of a high risk for rapid progression to limb loss. If there is concern for a foot infection, particularly in patients with diabetes, admission for broad-spectrum antibiotics and emergent surgical evaluation should be considered since emergent debridement may be neces­sary to prevent ascending infections that could be limb­and life-threatening.
Bauersachs RM et al. Total ischemic event reduction with
rivaroxaban after peripheral arterial revascularization in the VOYAGER PAD Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;78:317. [PMID: 34010631]
Nordanstig J et al. Mortality with paclitaxel-coated devices in
peripheral artery disease. N Engl J Med. 2020;383:2538. [PMID: 33296560]
OCCLUSIVE DISEASE: TIBIAL & PEDAL ARTERIES
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Severe pain of the forefoot that is relieved by dependency (ischemic rest pain).
»
Pain or numbness of the foot with walking.
»
Ulcer or gangrene, and not claudication, is a frequent initial manifestation.
»
Rubor when the foot is dependent and pallor when the foot is elevated.
» General Considerations
Occlusive processes of the tibial arteries of the lower leg and pedal arteries in the foot occur primarily in patients with diabetes. There often is extensive calcification of the artery wall.
B. Doppler and Vascular Findings
The ABI is often below 0.4; however, the ABI may be falsely elevated due to calcification of the arterial media layer from diabetes or CKD (Mönckeberg medial calcific sclerosis) and may not be compressible. Toe-brachial indexes are preferred for assessing perfusion and predicting wound healing.
C. Imaging
Digital subtraction angiography is the gold standard method to delineate the anatomy of the tibial-popliteal segment. MRA or CTA is less helpful for detection of lesions in this location due to the small vasculature and other technical issues related to image resolution.
» Differential Diagnosis
It is important to differentiate rest pain from diabetic neu­ropathic dysesthesia. Neuropathic pain is often described as plantar surface burning and is not relieved with leg depen­dency. Similarly, leg night cramps should not be confused with ischemic rest pain. Dependent rubor in the presence of a toe wound can often be mistaken for cellulitis; pallor on elevation helps confirm the diagnosis of rubor.
» Treatment
Good foot care may prevent ulcers, and most patients with diabetes will do well with a conservative regimen and podiatric care. However, if ulcerations appear and there is no significant healing within 2–3 weeks, blood flow studies (ankle-brachial index/toe-brachial index) are indicated. Poor blood flow and a foot ulcer or nightly ischemic rest pain requires expeditious revascularization to avoid a major amputation.
A. Bypass and Endovascular Techniques
Bypass with a saphenous vein to treat rest pain and heal ischemic foot ulcers provides significantly better survival and limb preservation rates than endovascular therapies. However, an endovascular therapy–first strategy has similar survival and limb preservation rates compared to bypass with a conduit other than a single segment saphenous vein.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
Isolated tibial disease will manifest as rest pain, an ulcer, or gangrene rather than claudication. Chronic limb-threaten­ing ischemia is defined as the presence of ischemic rest pain or ulcers and is associated with the highest rate of amputation. Classically, ischemic rest pain is confined to the dorsum of the forefoot and is relieved with depen­dency: the pain does not occur with standing, sitting, or dangling the leg over the edge of the bed. It is severe and burning in character and experienced when recumbent, possibly awakening the patient.
On examination, femoral and popliteal pulses may or may not be present depending on disease extent, but pal­pable pedal pulses will be absent. Dependent rubor may be prominent with pallor on elevation. The skin of the foot is generally cool, atrophic, and hairless.
B. Amputation
Patients with ischemic rest pain or ulcers have a 30–40% 1-year risk for major amputation. Patients with diabetes and tibial disease can be asymptomatic due to peripheral neuropathy, presenting more frequently with tissue loss. Patients with diabetes and PAD have a 4-fold risk of chronic limb-threatening ischemia compared with nondia­betic patients with PAD and have a risk of amputation up to 20-fold when compared to an age-matched population. Tibial artery disease is a major risk factor for amputation and is included as a factor in the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) vascular guidelines.
» Complications
The complications of intervention are similar to those listed for superficial femoral artery disease; the overall cardiovas­cular risk of intervention increases with decreasing ABI.
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Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia require aggressive risk factor modification. Wound infection risk after bypass is higher if there is an open foot wound.
» Prognosis
Patients with tibial atherosclerosis have extensive athero­sclerotic burden and a high prevalence of diabetes. Their prognosis without intervention is poor and complicated by the risk of amputation.
» When to Refer
Patients with diabetes and foot ulcers should be referred for a formal vascular evaluation and podiatric care.
» When to Admit
Any patient with diabetes and a foot ulcer and foot infection should be evaluated for an emergent operative incision and drainage. Empiric broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics should be given (eg, vancomycin for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] plus either ertapenem or piperacillin/tazobactam for gram-negative and anaerobic organisms). Multidisciplinary limb preservation centers, staffed with vascular surgeons, podiatrists, plastic and orthopedic surgeons, prosthetics and orthotic specialists, and diabetes specialists, have improved limb salvage rates.
Conte MS et al. Global vascular guidelines on the management
of chronic limb-threatening ischemia. J Vasc Surg. 2019;69:3. [PMID: 31159978]
Farber A et al. Surgery or endovascular therapy for chronic limb-
threatening ischemia. N Engl J Med. 2022;387:2305. [PMID: 36342173]
Gallagher KA et al. Current status and principles for the treat-
ment and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers in the cardiovas­cular patient population: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024;149:e232. [PMID: 38095068]
ACUTE ARTERIAL OCCLUSION OF A LIMB
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Sudden pain in a limb with absent limb pulses.
»
Usually some neurologic dysfunction with numbness, weakness, or complete paralysis.
»
Loss of light touch sensation requires revascular­ization within 3 hours for limb viability.
» General Considerations
Acute occlusion may be due to an embolus or to thrombosis of a diseased atherosclerotic segment. Emboli large enough to occlude proximal arteries in the lower extremities are almost always cardiac in origin. Atrial fibrillation is the most common cause of cardiac thrombus formation; other causes are valvular disease or thrombus formation on the ventricular surface of a large anterior myocardial infarct.
Emboli from arterial sources such as endoluminal ulcerations or calcified excrescences are usually small and go to the distal arterial tree (toes).
Typically, a patient with primary thrombosis will have a history of claudication and an abrupt worsening of symp­toms. If the stenosis is chronic, collateral blood vessels will develop, and the resulting occlusion may cause only a minimal increase in symptoms.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
The sudden onset of extremity pain, with loss or reduction in pulses, is diagnostic of acute arterial occlusion. This often will be accompanied by neurologic dysfunction, such as numbness or paralysis in extreme cases. With popliteal occlusion, symptoms may affect only the foot. With proxi­mal occlusions, the whole leg may be affected. Signs of severe arterial ischemia include pallor, coolness of the extremity, and mottling. Impaired neurologic function progressing to anesthesia with paralysis indicates irrevers­ible injury requiring amputation.
B. Doppler and Laboratory Findings
There will be little or no flow on Doppler examination of the distal vessels. Imaging, if done, may show an abrupt cutoff of contrast with embolic occlusion. Blood work may show myoglobinemia and metabolic acidosis.
C. Imaging
Whenever possible, imaging should be done in the operat­ing room because obtaining angiography, MRA, or CTA may delay revascularization and jeopardize the viability of the extremity. However, in cases with only modest symp­toms and where light touch of the extremity is maintained, imaging may be helpful in planning revascularization.
» Treatment
Immediate revascularization is required in all cases of symptomatic acute arterial thrombosis. Evidence of neuro-
logic injury, including loss of light touch sensation, indicates that collateral flow is inadequate to maintain limb viability and revascularization should be accomplished within 3 hours. Longer delays carry a significant risk of irrevers-
ible tissue damage approaching 100% at 6 hours.
A. Heparin
As soon as the diagnosis is made, an initial intravenous bolus of unfractionated heparin (80 U/kg) should be given followed by a continuous heparin infusion to maintain the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in the thera­peutic range (60–85 seconds) (12–18 units/kg/hour). This helps prevent clot propagation and may also relieve associ­ated vessel spasm. Anticoagulation may improve symp­toms, but revascularization will still be required.
B. Endovascular Techniques
Pharmacomechanical thrombectomy catheters can achieve rapid revascularization and are most effective for the smaller
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arteries of the lower leg. Catheter-directed chemical throm­bolysis into the clot with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) may be done but often requires 24 hours or longer to fully lyse the thrombus. TPA can only be used in patients with mild ischemia, as determined by an intact neurologic exami­nation. Patients with moderate to severe ischemia require immediate revascularization. Absolute contraindications for TPA include bleeding diathesis, GI bleeding, intracranial trauma, or neurosurgery within the past 3 months. Frequent vascular and access site examinations are required during the thrombolytic procedure to guard against the development of a hematoma.
C. Surgical Intervention
General anesthesia is usually indicated for surgical explora­tion of an acute arterial occlusion of a limb; local anesthe­sia may be used in high-risk patients if the exploration is limited to the common femoral artery. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to perform thrombo-embolectomy from the femoral, popliteal, and even the pedal vessels to revas­cularize the limb. The combined use of devices that pulver­ize and aspirate clot and intraoperative thrombolysis with TPA improves outcomes.
» Complications
Complications of revascularization of an acutely ischemic limb include severe metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, AKI, and cardiac arrest. When several hours have elapsed but recovery of viable tissue may still be possible, significant levels of lactic acid, potassium, and other harmful agents such as myoglobin may be released into the circulation dur­ing revascularization. Administering sodium bicarbonate (150 mEq NaHCO3 in 1 L of dextrose 5% in water at a rate of 1–1.5 L in the first hour and then adjust the rate to man­age acidosis) before reestablishing arterial flow is required. Surgery in the presence of thrombolytic agents and heparin carries a high risk of postoperative wound hematoma.
» Prognosis
There is a 10–25% risk of amputation with an acute arterial embolic occlusion, and a 25% or higher in-hospital mortal­ity rate. Prognosis for acute thrombotic occlusion of an atherosclerotic segment is generally better because the col­lateral flow can maintain extremity viability. The longer­term survival reflects the overall condition of the patient. In high-risk patients, an acute arterial occlusion is associ­ated with a dismal prognosis.
OCCLUSIVE CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Sudden onset of weakness and numbness of an extremity or the face, aphasia, dysarthria, or uni­lateral blindness (amaurosis fugax).
»
Bruit heard loudest in the mid neck.
» General Considerations
Unlike the other vascular territories, symptoms of ischemic cerebrovascular disease are predominantly due to emboli. When collateral flow reestablishes perfusion, ischemia reverses (transient ischemic attacks [TIAs]) but signals a high risk for additional emboli and stroke. The origins of emboli that cause ischemic strokes are the heart (most commonly) and an arterial source (25% of ischemic strokes). Approximately 90% of emboli from an arterial source originate from the proximal internal carotid artery, an area uniquely prone to the development of atherosclero­sis. The aortic arch may also be an atheroembolic source. Intracranial atherosclerotic lesions are uncommon in west­ern populations but are the most frequent location of cere­brovascular disease in Asian populations.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
Generally, the symptoms of a TIA last only a few seconds to minutes (but may continue up to 24 hours) while a stroke is defined as persistent symptoms beyond 24 hours. The most common lesions associated with carotid disease involve the anterior circulation in the cortex with both motor and sensory involvement. Emboli to the retinal artery cause unilateral blindness; transient monocular blindness is termed “amaurosis fugax.” Posterior circula­tion symptoms referable to the brainstem, cerebellum, and visual regions of the brain may be due to atheroscle­rosis of the vertebral basilar systems and are much less common.
Signs of cerebrovascular disease may include carotid artery bruits. However, there is poor correlation between the degree of stenosis and the presence of the bruit. Fur­thermore, the presence of a bruit does not correlate with stroke risk. Nonfocal symptoms, such as dizziness and unsteadiness, seldom are related to cerebrovascular atherosclerosis.
B. Imaging
Duplex ultrasonography is the imaging modality of choice with high specificity and sensitivity for detecting and grading the degree of stenosis at the carotid bifurcation (see Chapter 26).
Excellent depiction of the full anatomy of the cerebro­vascular circulation from aortic arch to cranium can be obtained with MRA or CTA (Figure 14–1). Each of the modalities may have false-positive or false-negative find­ings. Since the decision to intervene in cases of carotid stenosis depends on an accurate assessment of the degree of stenosis, it is recommended that at least two modalities be used to confirm the degree of stenosis. Diagnostic cere­bral angiography is reserved when carotid artery stenting is planned or other imaging modalities are contraindicated.
» Treatment
See Chapter 26 for a discussion of the medical manage­ment of occlusive cerebrovascular disease.
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Figure 14–1. Carotid bifurcation occlusive disease. A: Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) angiogram
of neck demonstrating carotid bifurcation stenosis. B: Axial CT view demonstrating the lesion. (Reproduced with permission from Doherty GM. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery, 15e. New York: McGraw Hill 2020.)
CHAPTER 14
A. Asymptomatic Patients
Large studies have shown a 5-year reduction in stroke rate from 11.5% to 5.0% with surgical treatment of asymptom­atic carotid stenosis that is greater than 60%; these patients may benefit from carotid intervention if their risk from intervention is low and their expected survival is longer than 5 years. Aggressive risk factor modification, including high-potency statins, may be as valuable as surgical inter­vention in these patients; the large NIH-sponsored CREST2 study is examining this issue.
Mild to moderate disease (30–50% stenosis) indicates the need for ongoing monitoring and aggressive risk factor modification. Patients with carotid stenosis that suddenly worsens likely have an unstable plaque and are at particu­larly high risk for embolic stroke.
B. Symptomatic Patients
Large randomized trials have shown that patients with TIAs or strokes from which they have completely or nearly completely recovered will benefit from carotid intervention if the ipsilateral carotid artery has a stenosis of more than 70%, and intervention should be considered for 50–69% stenoses due to potential benefit. In these situations, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and, in selected cases, carotid artery stenting, have a durable effect in preventing further events. In symptomatic patients, intervention should ideally be planned within 2 weeks since delays increase the risk of a second event.
» Complications
The most common complication from carotid intervention is cranial nerve injury, while the most dreaded complication
is stroke from embolization or carotid occlusion. The American Heart Association’s recommendations for upper limits of acceptable combined morbidity and mortality for these interventions is 3% for patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, 5% for those with TIAs, and 7% for patients with previous stroke. Higher rates of morbidity and mortal­ity negate the therapeutic benefit of carotid intervention.
A. Carotid Endarterectomy
The stroke risk for CEA is 1–2%. CEA also carries a 1–2% risk of permanent cranial nerve injury (usually the vagus nerve). A postoperative neck hematoma can cause acute airway compromise. CAD is a comorbidity in most of these patients, and MI rates after CEA are approximately 2–6%.
B. Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting
Carotid artery stenting is performed from a transcervical or transfemoral approach with reported stroke risks of 1–2% and 3–4%, respectively. Transfemoral stenting has worse outcomes for patients 70 years and older or women. The approach should be dictated by patient anatomy and risk factors. The risk of MI is lower with carotid artery stenting compared to CEA (1.1% vs 2.3%). Carotid artery stenting is indicated for reoperative cases, prior neck radiation, and high carotid bifurcations not otherwise accessible surgically. Nonetheless, emboli are more common during transfemoral carotid artery stenting in spite of embolic protection devices, especially when the carotid artery is heavily calcified. Trans­cervical carotid stenting, performed through a small incision at the base of the neck, avoids the aortic arch, uses cerebral protective flow reversal, and has lower reported emboliza­tion rates than transfemoral carotid stenting.
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» Prognosis
Twenty-five percent of patients with carotid stenosis and a TIA or small stroke will have further brain ischemia within 18 months with most of the events occurring within the first 6 months. Historically, patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis likely had an annual stroke rate of just over 2% which may be lower in the statin era. Prospective ultra­sound screening at least annually is recommended in asymptomatic patients with known carotid stenosis to identify plaque progression, which increases stroke risk. Concomitant CAD is common and is an important factor both for perioperative risk and long-term prognosis. Aggressive risk factor modification should be prescribed for patients with cerebrovascular disease regardless of planned intervention.
» When to Refer
Both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with a carotid stenosis of 70% or greater by ultrasound criteria and patients with carotid stenosis of 50% or greater with symptoms of a TIA or stroke should be referred to a vascu­lar specialist for consultation.
» When to Admit
Individuals with a TIA or stroke should be admitted for further workup and evaluation. Further imaging is war­ranted in these patients and anticoagulation with heparin should be initiated after ruling out hemorrhagic stroke.
Columbo JA et al. Procedural safety comparison between trans-
carotid artery revascularization, carotid endarterectomy, and carotid stenting: perioperative and 1-year rates of stroke or death. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11:e024964. [PMID: 36172943]
Wang J et al. Carotid stenting versus endarterectomy for asymp-
tomatic carotid artery stenosis: a systematic review and meta­analysis. Stroke. 2022;53:3047. [PMID: 35730457]
feeding are not met resulting in abdominal pain. Because of the rich collateral mesenteric network, generally at least two of the three major visceral vessels (celiac, superior mesenteric, inferior mesenteric arteries) must be affected before symptoms develop.
Ischemic colitis is a variant of mesenteric ischemia and
usually develops in the distribution of the inferior mesen­teric artery. The intestinal mucosa is the most sensitive to ischemia and will slough if underperfused.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
1. Acute mesenteric ischemia—Visceral arterial embolism
presents acutely with severe abdominal pain. In contrast, patients with primary visceral arterial thrombosis often have an antecedent history consistent with chronic mesen­teric ischemia. The key finding with acute mesenteric ischemia is severe, steady, diffuse abdominal pain without focal tenderness or distention. This “pain out of propor­tion” to physical examination findings occurs because ischemia initially is mucosal and does not impact the peri­toneum until transmural ischemia inflames the peritoneal lining. Late findings include a high WBC count, lactic aci­dosis, hypotension, and abdominal distention.
2. Chronic mesenteric ischemia—Patients are generally over 45 years of age and may have evidence of atheroscle­rosis in other vasculature. Symptoms consist of epigastric or periumbilical postprandial pain lasting 1–3 hours. To avoid the pain, patients limit food intake and may develop a fear of eating. Weight loss is universal. In severe cases of intestinal angina, patients may become dehydrated, which can cause hypotension and acute thrombosis.
3. Ischemic colitis—Characteristic symptoms are left lower quadrant pain and tenderness, abdominal cramping, and mild diarrhea (non-bloody or bloody). Rectal discharge will appear mucus-like or bloody.
VISCERAL ARTERY INSUFFICIENCY (Intestinal Angina)
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Severe postprandial abdominal pain.
»
Weight loss with a “fear of eating.”
»
Acute mesenteric ischemia: severe abdominal pain yet minimal findings on physical examination.
» General Considerations
Acute mesenteric ischemia results from occlusive mesen­teric arterial disease, either embolic occlusion or primary thrombosis of at least one major mesenteric artery.
Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia can occur with
low-flow states, such as severe HF, sepsis, or hypotension.
Chronic mesenteric ischemia, also called intestinal
angina, occurs when increased flow demands during
B. Imaging and Colonoscopy
Contrast-enhanced CT is accurate at identifying the pres­ence of ischemic intestine. In acute or chronic mesenteric ischemia, a CTA or MRA can demonstrate narrowing of the proximal visceral vessels. In nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia from a low-flow state, angiography is needed to display a typical “pruned tree” appearance of the distal visceral vascular bed. Ultrasound scanning of the mesen­teric vessels can show elevated flow velocities in severe stenosis and proximal obstructing lesions.
In patients with ischemic colitis, flexible sigmoidoscopy is necessary to assess the grade of ischemia that occurs most often in watershed areas, such as the rectal sigmoid and splenic flexure.
» Treatment
1. Acute mesenteric ischemia—A high suspicion of acute mesenteric ischemia dictates immediate exploration to assess bowel viability. If the bowel remains viable, arterial bypass using a prosthetic conduit can be done either from
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the supra-celiac aorta or common iliac artery to the celiac and the superior mesentery artery. Angioplasty and stent­ing of the arteries can be used, but an open surgical evalu­ation of bowel viability is often necessary.
2. Chronic mesenteric ischemia—Angioplasty and stent­ing of the proximal vessel may be beneficial depending on the anatomy of the stenosis. Should an endovascular solu­tion not be available, an aorto-visceral artery bypass is the preferred management. The long-term results are highly durable.
3. Ischemic colitis—The mainstay of treatment is mainte­nance of blood pressure and perfusion until collateral cir­culation becomes well established. The patient must be monitored closely for evidence of perforation necessitating resection.
» Prognosis
The combined morbidity and mortality rates from surgical intervention of acute mesenteric ischemia is 50–69%, although only 25% of patients will survive 1 year. The com­bined morbidity and mortality rates are 10–15% from surgi­cal intervention of chronic mesenteric ischemia, in part due to patients’ malnutrition and frailty. Without intervention, both acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia are uniformly fatal. Adequate collateral circulation usually develops in those who have ischemic colitis, and the prognosis for this entity is better than for chronic mesenteric ischemia.
» When to Refer
Any patient in whom there is a suspicion of mesenteric ischemia should be urgently referred for imaging and pos­sible intervention. When there is “pain out of proportion to examination,” a high index of suspicion is warranted to expedite the diagnosis.
» When to Admit
Indications for admission include the presence of abdomi­nal pain out of proportion to abnormal physical findings (there are no findings of peritonitis and the abdomen is soft) or a history of worsening intestinal angina with inability to tolerate a diet.
Andraska EA et al. Contemporary management of acute and
chronic mesenteric ischemia: 10-year experience from a multi­hospital healthcare system. J Vasc Surg. 2022;75:1624. [PMID: 34788652]
Huber TS et al. Chronic mesenteric ischemia: clinical practice
guidelines from the Society for Vascular Surgery. J Vasc Surg. 2021;73:87S. [PMID: 33171195]
Lehane DJ et al. Survival, reintervention, and value of open and
endovascular repair for chronic mesenteric ischemia. Ann Vasc Surg. 2023:97:203. [PMID: 37659648]
arterial occlusive syndromes but is much less common. Patients at risk include those with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiencies; or the JAK2 mutation. Thrombolysis is the mainstay of therapy. Aggressive long-term anticoagulation is required.
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NONATHEROSCLEROTIC VASCULAR DISEASE
THROMBOANGIITIS OBLITERANS (Buerger Disease)
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Typically occurs in men who smoke cigarettes.
»
Distal extremities involved with severe ischemia, progressing to tissue loss.
»
Thrombosis of the superficial veins may occur.
»
Smoking cessation is essential to stop disease progression.
» General Considerations
Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease) is a segmen­tal, inflammatory, and thrombotic process of the distal­most arteries and occasionally veins of the extremities. Pathologic examination reveals arteritis in the affected vessels. The cause is not known but it is rarely seen in patients who do not smoke cigarettes. Arteries most com­monly affected are the plantar and digital vessels of the foot and lower leg. In advanced stages, the fingers and hands may become involved. The incidence of thromboangiitis obliterans has decreased dramatically.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
Thromboangiitis obliterans may be initially difficult to dif­ferentiate from atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, but in most cases, the lesions are on the toes and the patient is younger than 40 years. The observation of superficial thrombophlebitis may aid the diagnosis. Because the distal vessels are usually affected, intermittent claudication is not common, but rest pain, particularly pain in the distal most part of the extremity (ie, toes), is frequent. This pain often progresses to tissue loss and amputation unless the patient stops smoking cigarettes. The progression of the disease seems to be intermittent with acute and dramatic episodes followed by some periods of remission.
ACUTE MESENTERIC VEIN OCCLUSION
The hallmarks of acute mesenteric vein occlusion are post­prandial pain and evidence of a hypercoagulable state. Acute mesenteric vein occlusion presents similarly to the
B. Imaging
MRA or invasive angiography can demonstrate the oblit­eration of the distal arterial tree typical of thromboangiitis obliterans.