Cerebral microembolism and ischemic changes associated with carotid endarterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to characterize microembolic signals (MS) that occur during the various phases of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and to consider their relationship to postoperative changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of 76 patients who underwent 78 carotid endarterectomies at a referral center. Perioperative transcranial Doppler monitoring and MRI were performed before and after CEA. The types of MS that occurred during phases of surgery were analyzed and compared with MRI changes.


RESULTS
We observed a clinical stroke in one patient (1.3%) and ipsilateral small areas of silent ischemic change on seven postoperative MRI studies (9.0%). In 95% of CEAs, MS were detected. Only those MS observed in the recovery room that occurred at a rate of more than five per 15 minutes were associated with postoperative MRI ischemic changes (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Ischemic changes on MRI after CEA are related to postoperative MS.
Cantelmo
N L
NL
Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center, Mass 02130, USA.
Babikian
V L
VL
Samaraweera
R N
RN
Gordon
J K
JK
Pochay
V E
VE
Winter
M R
MR
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial