title: The importance of cerebral ischemia during carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: The importance of cerebral ischemia produced by carotid clamping during carotid endarterectomy remains controversial. In an effort to determine the importance of cerebral ischemia during carotid endarterectomy, 369 patients undergoing 431 consecutive carotid endarterectomies were studied by Xenon-133 (133Xe) clearance and electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring. None of the patients was shunted during the procedures. The severity of ischemia as indicated by 133Xe clearance from the ipsilateral hemisphere during 20 to 30 minutes of carotid occlusion did not predict the appearance of complications in this group of patients (chi 2 = 1.417; P = 0.841). There was a highly significant relationship between the depth of cerebral ischemia as demonstrated by 133Xe clearance and the appearance of abnormalities on the EEG (chi 2 = 42.043, P less than 0.0001). In the subgroup of patients developing abnormalities as shown by EEG, there was a negative correlation (chi 2 = 17.495; P less than 0.002) between reduction in blood flow and the appearance of complications, in that the higher the blood flow during occlusion the more likely the patient developing EEG changes would develop complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama Medical Center, Birmingham.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zampella
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Morawetz
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Zeiger
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Varner
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Halsey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes