Search Results (259)

Background/Objectives： Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a prevalent Mendelian disorder caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene, primarily impacting cerebral small blood vessels. This review aims to explore the involvement of large intracranial arteries in CADASIL, particularly focusing on the association with RNF213 polymorphisms, especially in Asian populations. Methods： A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather data on the morphological features of both small and large intracranial arteries in CADASIL, examining clinical manifestations, imaging findings, and genetic associations. Results： The findings indicate that while CADASIL is predominantly characterized by small vessel disease, a significant number of patients also exhibit large artery involvement, particularly Asian populations where RNF213 polymorphisms may play a critical role. The review highlights the evidence of intracranial stenosis and the potential implications of traditional vascular risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which are prevalent in these populations. Conclusions： The involvement of larger intracranial arteries in CADASIL underscores the complexity of the disease, suggesting that both genetic predispositions and environmental factors contribute to vascular abnormalities. Further research is needed to clarify these relationships and improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CADASIL patients. Full article

Background/Objective: Bridging stent optimal choice in fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair (f/bEVAR) is under investigation. This systematic review and meta-analysis studied the outcomes of the BeGraft peripheral and peripheral PLUS as bridging stents in f/bEVAR. Methods: The methodology was pre-registered to the PROSPERO (CRD420251007695). Following the PRISMA guidelines and PICO model, the PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases were searched for observational studies and randomized control trials, in English, from 2015 to 2025, reporting on f/bEVAR patients using the second-generation BeGraft peripheral or the BeGraft peripheral PLUS balloon expandable covered stent (BECS; Bentley InnoMed, Hechingen, Germany) for bridging. The ROBINS-I assessed the risk of bias and GRADE the quality of evidence. Target vessel technical success, occlusion/stenosis, endoleak Ic/IIIc, reintervention and instability during follow-up were primary outcomes, assessed using proportional meta-analysis. Results: Among 1266 studies, eight were included (1986 target vessels; 1791 bridged via BeGraft); all retrospective, except one. The ROBINS-I showed that seven were at serious risk of bias. According to GRADE, the quality of evidence was “very low” for primary outcomes. Target vessel technical success was 99% (95% CI 98–100%; I² = 12%). The mean follow-up was 20.2 months. Target-vessel instability was 3% (95% CI 2–5%; I² = 44%), occlusion/stenosis was 1% (95% CI 1–4%; I² = 8%) and endoleak Ic/IIIc was 1% (95% CI 0–3%; I² = 0%). The estimated target-vessel reintervention was 2% (95% CI 2–4%; I² = 12%). Celiac trunk, superior mesenteric and renal artery instability were 1% (95% CI 0–16%; I² = 0%;), 1% (95% CI 0–5%; I² = 14%) and 4% (95% CI 2–7%; I² = 40%), respectively. Conclusions: The BeGraft peripheral and peripheral PLUS BECS performed with high technical success and low instability when used for bridging in f/bEVAR. Cautious interpretation is required due to the very low quality of evidence. Full article

Background: Fenestrated stentgrafting has become a first-line treatment for juxtarenal aneurysms, and the incorporation of all renovisceral vessels with fenestrations has become common to increase the proximal sealing zone. This increases the complexity of the repair compared to using fewer fenestrations, and stenting of the celiac artery (CA), in particular, can be technically challenging. Objective: This study evaluates the mid-term outcomes of leaving the celiac artery unstented during quadruple fenestrated stentgrafting for complex aortic aneurysms. Additionally, it explores the clinical and anatomical factors that influence the decision to not stent the celiac artery. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients with complex aortic aneurysms who underwent elective fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) between 2018 and 2023. Custom Cook Zenith grafts were used, and all patients underwent preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) as well as follow-up CTA to assess the celiac artery. This study evaluated celiac artery anatomic factors, such as proximal and distal diameter; presence of stenosis (<50% or >50%) and patency; length of any CA stenosis; CA takeoff angulation, CA tortuosity, early CA division; calcification; and presence of CA aneurysm or ectasia anatomical abnormalities. Recorded outcomes of CA instability included any stent stenosis, target vessel occlusion, reintervention, or endoleak (types 1C and 3). Results: A total of 101 patients underwent FEVAR, with 72 receiving a stent in the celiac artery and 29 not receiving it. Rates of technical success (96.5% vs. 100%), intervention times (256 min vs. 237 min), and lengths of hospital stay (5.1 vs. 4.7 days) were similar between unstented vs. stented groups. At one year, no significant difference in celiac artery instability was noted (17.2 vs. 5.5%; p = 0.06). Risk factors for CA occlusion on univariate analysis included a steep takeoff angle (≥140°), length of stenosis >6.5 mm, proximal diameter ≤6.5 mm, preoperative stenosis ≥50%, and celiac artery tortuosity. Conclusions: Anatomical features of the CA impact the ability to achieve routine CA stenting during FEVAR. Selectively not stenting the celiac artery during FEVAR might simplify the procedure without compromising patient safety and mid-term outcomes. Full article

(1) Background: Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of combined coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and dynamic CT myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) for detecting hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with intermediate pretest probability. (2) Methods: Patients with an intermediate pretest probability of CAD were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent CCTA and dynamic CT-MPI using a third-generation dual-source CT scanner prior to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Anatomically significant stenosis was defined as ≥50% luminal narrowing on both CCTA and ICA. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) was performed during ICA in selected cases. Hemodynamically significant CAD was defined per vessel as FFR ≤ 0.80, angiographic stenosis ≥70%, or having undergone revascularization. The diagnostic performance of CCTA alone and CCTA combined with CT-MPI was compared against this reference standard. (3) Results: Seventy-four patients (mean age, 66.8 ± 11.1 years; 59 men) were included. The median coronary calcium score was 508.5 Agatston units (interquartile range: 147–1173). ICA and CCTA detected anatomically significant stenoses in 137 (61.7%) and 146 (65.8%) coronary vessels, respectively, and in 62 (83.8%) and 71 (95.9%) patients, respectively. Hemodynamically significant stenosis was present in 56 patients (76%) and 99 vessels (45%). On a per-vessel basis, CCTA alone yielded a sensitivity of 96.7%, specificity of 60.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 64.4%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.1%. Combined CCTA and CT-MPI demonstrated a sensitivity of 90.1%, specificity of 84.3%, PPV of 82.7%, and NPV of 91.1%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve improved from 0.787 (95% confidence interval: 0.73–0.84) for CCTA to 0.872 (95% confidence interval: 0.82–0.91) for the combined approach (p < 0.05). The median total radiation dose for both CCTA and CT-MPI was 8.05 mSv (interquartile range: 6.71–11.0). (4) Conclusions: In patients with intermediate pretest probability of CAD, combining CCTA with dynamic CT-MPI significantly enhances the diagnostic performance for identifying hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis compared to CCTA alone. Full article

Background: Venous sinus stenting is a promising treatment for intracranial venous disorders, such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension and pulsatile tinnitus, associated with transverse sinus stenosis. The VIVA Stent System (VSS) is a novel self-expanding braided venous stent designed to navigate tortuous cerebral venous anatomy. This preclinical study assessed the safety, thrombogenicity, and performance of the VSS in a swine model. Methods: Fifteen swine underwent bilateral internal mammary vein stenting with either the VSS (n = 9) or the PRECISE^® PRO RX stent (n = 6, reference). Fluoroscopy and thrombogenicity assessments were conducted on the day of stenting, clinical pathology analysis was carried out throughout the in-life phase, and CT Venography was performed before sacrifice. Animals were sacrificed at 30 ± 3 or 180 ± 11 days post-stenting for necropsy and histological evaluation. Results: Fluoroscopic angiography confirmed the successful VSS deployment with complete venous wall apposition and no vessel damage. The VSS achieved the highest scores on a four-point Likert scale for most performance parameters. No thrombus formation was observed on either delivery system. CT Venography confirmed vessel patency, no stent migration, and complete stent integrity. Histopathology showed a mild, expected foreign body reaction at 30 days, which resolved by 180 days, indicating normal healing progression. Both stents showed increased luminal diameter and decreased wall thickness at 180 days, suggesting vessel recovery. No adverse reactions were observed in non-target organs. Conclusions: The VSS exhibited favorable safety, procedural performance, and thromboresistance in a swine model, supporting its potential clinical use for treating transverse sinus stenosis and related conditions. Full article

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, highlighting the importance of developing accurate and efficient diagnostic tools. This study presents a comparative evaluation of three recent YOLO architecture versions (YOLOv8, YOLOv9, and YOLOv11) for the tasks of coronary vessel segmentation and stenosis detection using the ARCADE dataset. Two workflows were explored: one with original angiographic images and another incorporating Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) for image enhancement. Models were trained for 100 epochs using the AdamW optimizer and evaluated with precision, recall, and F1-score under a pixel-based segmentation framework. YOLOv9-E achieved the highest performance in vessel segmentation with an F1-score of 0.4524, while YOLOv11-X was most effective for stenosis detection, achieving an F1-score of 0.7826. Although CLAHE improved local contrast, it did not consistently improve segmentation results and occasionally introduced artifacts that negatively affected model performance. Compared to state-of-the-art methods, the YOLO models demonstrated competitive results, especially for large, well-defined coronary segments, but showed limitations in detecting smaller or more complex pathological structures. These findings support the use of YOLO-based architectures for real-time CAD segmentation tasks and highlight opportunities for future improvement through the integration of attention mechanisms or hybrid deep learning strategies. Full article

Ischemic stroke following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a rare complication, with an overall incidence of 0.56%. Most embolic strokes result from the dislodgement of atherosclerotic plaques, thrombi formed on catheter surfaces, procedural maneuvers, or, less commonly, air or metallic emboli originating from fractured guidewires. We present a unique case of stroke following PCI due to a previously unreported mechanism—arterial tunica media embolization associated with arterial access. A 57-year-old female presented with chest pain at rest and with exertion, accompanied by episodes of anxiety and fluctuating blood pressure, for which coronary angiography was performed, revealing 90–99% stenosis of the left anterior descending artery and necessitating PCI. During the procedure, the patient developed an eye deviation, aphasia, and left-sided hemiparesis. Cerebral angiography identified a M2 segment occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) and a subocclusion of the right anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Thrombectomy was performed, retrieving two white, tubular emboli resembling fragments of a vessel wall, histologically confirmed to be arterial tunica media. While PCI is associated with a low complication rate, its increasing frequency necessitates awareness of emerging complications. This case underscores a previously undocumented potential embolic complication arising from the performance of PCI. Full article

Background: Antegrade root cardioplegia remains the most popular strategy for myocardial protection during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) performed with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross clamp. In patients with depressed left ventricular function, however, especially if associated with severe multiple coronary stenosis, increased pharmacological and/or mechanical support in the early post-CPB period is often required to support left ventricular recovery. In this study, we analyzed the results of a myocardial protection strategy that includes selective infusion of cardioplegia through each venous graft followed by warm reperfusion distal to each coronary anastomosis until complete removal of the aortic clamp (total antegrade cardioplegia infusion and warm reperfusion = TAWR) to improve early postoperative recovery in patients with depressed left ventricular function undergoing multi-vessel CABG. Methods: Out of 97 patients undergoing CABG using the TAWR strategy for myocardial protection, 32 patients presented with depressed left ventricle function (EF < 40%) and multi-vessel coronary diseases requiring ≥2 vein grafts and were enrolled as Group A. Combined primary outcomes and postoperative early and late left ventricle recovery (including spontaneous rhythm recovery, inotropic support and postoperative troponin release) were analyzed and compared with those of 32 matched patients operated on using standard antegrade root cardioplegia and limited warm reperfusion through LIMA graft (SAWR) enrolled as Group B. Results: Two patient died in hospital (in-hospital mortality 3.1%) with no statistical differences between the two groups. In Group A 27 patients (90%) had spontaneous recovery of idiopathic rhythm compared to 17 (53%) in group B (p = 0.001). Early inotropic support was required in nine patients (28%) of group A and seventeen patients (53%) of group B (p = 0.041). Furthermore, in eight patients (25%) of group A and seventeen (53%) of group B (p = 0.039) inotropic support was continued for >48 h. Conclusions: The TAWR strategy seems to significantly improve early postoperative cardiac recovery in patients with left ventricle depression undergoing multi-vessel CABG, when compared with SAWR strategy and could therefore be considered the strategy of choice in this subset of patients. Full article

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) has been identified as a precursor to micro- and macroangiopathic complications and an independent risk factor for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Recent studies have identified a novel risk factor for ED: severe aortic stenosis (AS). Traditionally linked to other established risk factors for endothelial cell dysregulation, AS has emerged as a contributor to ED, which is supported by the improvement of endothelial function following transcatheter (TAVR) or surgical (SAVR) interventions. Furthermore, the observation of ED in patients with a dysfunctional bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) at a younger age suggests a distinct impact of AS on ED. A promising hypothesis is a hemodynamic theory suggesting that changes in the shear stress of the ascending aortic wall and peripheral vessels, along with subclinical hemolysis caused by turbulent blood flow, could lead to reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Current hypotheses on ED have yet to consider the influence of concomitant aortic stenosis in BAV. Additionally, studies examining potential intravascular hemolysis in BAV patients or the impact of surgical treatment of this defect on endothelial function are scarce. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms underlying ED in patients with AS or BAV and to identify possible directions for future research. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Papillary Fibroelastoma is a benign primary cardiac tumor, commonly located in a valvular position, predominantly on the aortic valve. Case Presentation: We present a 73-year-old male patient with a medical history of chronic lymphatic leukemia, kidney failure, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea. In a routinely performed echocardiogram an abnormal structure in the left ventricle was found. The patient presented completely asymptomatically at the time of examination. A cardiac magnetic resonance-scan provided further information about the size and localization of the tumor in the left ventricle, which seemed to be attached to a papillary muscle and was about 1.6 cm in diameter. Due to visible scarring of the myocardia, which was identified in the scan, a cardiac catheter examination was performed. A coronary artery disease was detected with a severe stenosis in three vessels. During an elective bypass-operation, the removal of the structure was performed with an approach through the left atrium, passing the mitral valve using a valve sizer for better exposure. The tumor of 1 cm presented macroscopically with an anemone-like shape. The histopathological examination confirmed the intraoperative assumption of a papillary fibroelastoma, found in an aberrant location. Conclusions: Unexpectedly challenging surgical removals of structures in the left ventricle require innovative techniques with available instruments for better exposure. Full article

Background: Our study evaluated the correlation between internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) and retinal microvascular changes in patients with hypertensive retinopathy, dyslipidemia and ICAS. We analyzed vascular measurements provided by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and carotid Doppler ultrasonography (US) and linked OCTA parameters with carotid artery US measurements on the same side. Statistical differences in OCTA analysis among three groups (no stenosis, mild stenosis and moderate stenosis) were evaluated and correlated with carotid Doppler parameters. Our study aimed to evaluate whether OCTA can be proposed as a screening method in patients diagnosed with mild and moderate ICAS in order to improve the early detection of carotid changes, thus potentially reducing the rate of cardiovascular and cerebral complications of ICAS. Methods: We conducted a study on hypertensive patients with ICAS using six OCTA parameters in the analysis of the retinal vasculature and carotid Doppler US velocities of three carotid arteries and the vertebral artery (VA). Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s post hoc tests were used to determine whether there were statistically significant differences between the normal, mild and moderate stenosis groups. Spearman and Pearson correlation were used to obtain correlations among OCTA parameters such as the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), non-flow area (NFA), vascular flow area (VFA) and blood flow velocity on carotid Doppler US. Results: In the final analysis, 49 patients were included and 3 groups of stenosis were obtained, comprising 21 subjects with no stenosis, 19 with mild stenosis and 9 with moderate stenosis. Right eye and left eye groups were formed. In the right eye group with right ICAS, we found statistically significant results for FAZ circularity when comparing the normal stenosis group to the mild stenosis group (p = 0.025) and the mild stenosis group to the moderate stenosis group (p = 0.006). Statistically significant results were also observed for NFA when comparing the normal stenosis group to the moderate stenosis group (p = 0.004) and the mild stenosis group to the moderate stenosis group (p = 0.011). When comparing the FAZ area (p = 0.016) and VFA (p = 0.037) for the normal and moderate groups, statistically significant values were obtained. When comparing the normal and moderate stenosis groups with regard to the left eye, we found statistically significant results for VFA (p = 0.041), NFA (p = 0.045) and VFA (p = 0.029). When comparing the mild and moderate carotid artery stenosis groups, we obtained statistically significant results for NFA (p = 0.001), FAZ area (p = 0.007) and VFA (p = 0.013). In the right eye group, correlations between internal carotid artery (ICA) peak systolic velocity (PSV) and VFA (rho = −0.286), ICA end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and NFA (r = 0.365), external carotid artery (ECA) PSV and VFA (r = −0.288; rho = −0.317), common carotid artery (CCA) PSV and NFA (rho = −0.345), CCA EDV and NFA (rho = −0.292) and VA PSV and VFA (r = −0.327; rho = −0.379) were found. When analyzing OCTA parameters, we found statistically significant results for NFA and VFA (r = −0.374; rho = −0.288). Correlations were also found in the left eye group between ICA PSV and NFA (r = −0.351; rho = −0.313), ICA EDV and VFA (r = −0.421; rho = −0.314), ECA PSV and NFA (r = −0.412; rho = −0.457), CCA PSV and NFA (p = −0.288; rho = −0.339), and CCA EDV and NFA (r = −0.404; rho = −0.417). Conclusions: Our study found correlations between carotid Doppler velocities and OCTA vascular flow parameters; thus, OCTA may be used as a tool for monitoring the microvascular changes associated with carotid stenosis. OCTA can provide insights concerning the overall vascular condition of the patient, since it provides subjective data on vessel density and flow; therefore, by monitoring hypertensive patients with both OCTA and carotid Doppler US, we may be able to increase efficiency in screening and diagnosing patients with IACS. Full article

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare yet clinically significant cerebrovascular disorder characterized by progressive stenosis of the distal internal carotid artery and/or its principal branches, accompanied by the development of characteristic collateral vessel networks. This disease demonstrates a complex multifactorial etiology with strong genetic determinants, as evidenced by its distinct geographical distribution patterns and familial clustering. Recent genetic researches have identified multiple pathogenic mutations contributing to MMD development through three principal mechanisms: progressive vascular stenosis, abnormal angiogenesis, and dysregulated inflammatory responses. Furthermore, moyamoya syndrome frequently occurs as a secondary vascular complication in various monogenic disorders. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent genetic advances in MMD in view of diverse pathogenic pathways, offering valuable perspectives on the molecular mechanisms underlying disease development and potential therapeutic targets. Full article

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a well-established treatment for severe aortic stenosis across all levels of surgical risk. While transfemoral access remains the default approach, complications arising from vascular access—especially in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD)—pose significant challenges. Hostile vascular access, characterized by narrow vessel diameters, severe calcification, and tortuosity, complicates the procedure and necessitates alternative strategies. Recent advancements, such as intravascular lithotripsy (IVL), have shown promise in managing severely calcified arteries, improving the feasibility of transfemoral TAVR in patients previously considered ineligible. IVL uses pulsatile sonic waves to fragment arterial calcifications, enhancing vessel compliance and facilitating safe device delivery. Studies have demonstrated that IVL-assisted TAVR improves procedural success and reduces complications in patients with PAD. Additionally, orbital atherectomy, an adjunctive therapy targeting both concentric and eccentric calcifications, may complement the management of complex arterial calcification. The Hostile and passage–puncture scores offer valuable risk stratification tools for predicting vascular complications, aiding in better access site selection. Post-procedural echocardiography, particularly femoral artery sonography, may also play a role in detecting vascular complications early, enabling timely intervention. Finally, alternative access sites are increasingly being explored, with emerging data helping to guide the final access site decision. As TAVR continues to expand into lower risk populations, optimizing vascular access strategies remains essential to improving procedural outcomes. This review highlights the importance of preoperative imaging, endovascular techniques, and post-procedural monitoring in overcoming vascular challenges and ensuring successful TAVR outcomes. Full article

Atherosclerosis, marked by elevated plaque formation, occurs due to stenosis, which narrows the arterial walls and alters the natural flow path. Previous research has shown that the likelihood of high-rupture stenosis can be linked to temperature distribution variations in bifurcated arteries. In this study, we employ a monolithic Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) finite element approach to model heat transfer in fluid–structure interactions within stenosed bifurcated arteries, considering the elasticity of arterial walls. We analyze unsteady, incompressible Newtonian blood flow in a two-dimensional laminar regime, focusing on key factors such as velocity, wall displacement, temperature effects, and the average Nusselt number. Our findings reveal that under pulsatile inflow conditions, minor temperature fluctuations occur under specific waveform flow boundary conditions. Additionally, greater arterial wall flexibility enhances heat transfer between the blood and vessel walls, with flow reflections further contributing to this effect. Lastly, we examine wall shear stress (WSS) at its minimum and maximum values, emphasizing the role of arterial elasticity in influencing these forces. Full article

Background: The arcuate foramen (AF), an osseous foramen, is probably formatted from the ossification of the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane. When this morphologically ossified variant exists, it encloses the vertebral artery (VA) third segment (V3). This close relationship may cause compression to the VA with concomitant vertebrobasilar insufficiency, vertigo, headaches, or neck pain. In the published literature, no studies investigate the abovementioned potential compression pattern. The present study examines the AF ossification pattern (complete or partial type) and the variable VA diameter at the atlantal part (V3), concluding a potential risk for VA compression after correlating the relative diameters (AF and VA diameters). Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty dried first cervical vertebrae (atlases) and one hundred fifty computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained for the present study. The presence of a complete or incomplete AF was evaluated, and when present, its diameter was measured. To correlate these findings with the vessel, 50 computed tomography angiographies (without AF presence) were obtained to measure the V3 segment diameter. Results: Out of the total 600 (N = 600) sides, 111 sides had incomplete AF (18.2%), and 67 sides had complete AF (11.1%). The AF mean diameter was 6.41 (1.12) mm. The diameter of the V3 segment ranged between 5.0 and 6.0 mm; therefore, three morphological stenosis patterns were identified. A low risk of compression (over 6.0 mm) was identified in 61.2% (N = 109 sides), a moderate risk (between 5.0–6.0 mm) was observed in 29.2% (N = 52 sides), and a high risk (under 5.0 mm) was recorded in 9.6% (N = 17 sides). There was no statistically significant correlation regarding sexes and age for the potential compression patterns. Conclusions: The present study revealed the morphological stenosis pattern of the AF to the V3 segment. The variation had a high risk of compression to the vessel in 9.6% of sides, indicating that it is not infrequent. Knowledge of these details is essential for clinicians when investigating vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Full article