Recent advances and controversial issues in the optimal management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis

Copyright © 2023 Society for Vascular Surgery. All rights reserved..

OBJECTIVE: The optimal management of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (AsxCS) is enduringly controversial. We updated our 2021 Expert Review and Position Statement, focusing on recent advances in the diagnosis and management of patients with AsxCS.

METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed up to August 1, 2023, using PubMed/PubMed Central, EMBASE and Scopus. The following keywords were used in various combinations: "asymptomatic carotid stenosis," "carotid endarterectomy" (CEA), "carotid artery stenting" (CAS), and "transcarotid artery revascularization" (TCAR). Areas covered included (i) improvements in best medical treatment (BMT) for patients with AsxCS and declining stroke risk, (ii) technological advances in surgical/endovascular skills/techniques and outcomes, (iii) risk factors, clinical/imaging characteristics and risk prediction models for the identification of high-risk AsxCS patient subgroups, and (iv) the association between cognitive dysfunction and AsxCS.

RESULTS: BMT is essential for all patients with AsxCS, regardless of whether they will eventually be offered CEA, CAS, or TCAR. Specific patient subgroups at high risk for stroke despite BMT should be considered for a carotid revascularization procedure. These patients include those with severe (≥80%) AsxCS, transcranial Doppler-detected microemboli, plaque echolucency on Duplex ultrasound examination, silent infarcts on brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography scans, decreased cerebrovascular reserve, increased size of juxtaluminal hypoechoic area, AsxCS progression, carotid plaque ulceration, and intraplaque hemorrhage. Treatment of patients with AsxCS should be individualized, taking into consideration individual patient preferences and needs, clinical and imaging characteristics, and cultural, ethnic, and social factors. Solid evidence supporting or refuting an association between AsxCS and cognitive dysfunction is lacking.

CONCLUSIONS: The optimal management of patients with AsxCS should include BMT for all individuals and a prophylactic carotid revascularization procedure (CEA, CAS, or TCAR) for some asymptomatic patient subgroups, additionally taking into consideration individual patient needs and preference, clinical and imaging characteristics, social and cultural factors, and the available stroke risk prediction models. Future studies should investigate the association between AsxCS with cognitive function and the role of carotid revascularization procedures in the progression or reversal of cognitive dysfunction.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:79

Enthalten in:

Journal of vascular surgery - 79(2024), 3 vom: 01. März, Seite 695-703

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Paraskevas, Kosmas I [VerfasserIn]
Brown, Martin M [VerfasserIn]
Lal, Brajesh K [VerfasserIn]
Myrcha, Piotr [VerfasserIn]
Lyden, Sean P [VerfasserIn]
Schneider, Peter A [VerfasserIn]
Poredos, Pavel [VerfasserIn]
Mikhailidis, Dimitri P [VerfasserIn]
Secemsky, Eric A [VerfasserIn]
Musialek, Piotr [VerfasserIn]
Mansilha, Armando [VerfasserIn]
Parikh, Sahil A [VerfasserIn]
Silvestrini, Mauro [VerfasserIn]
Lavie, Carl J [VerfasserIn]
Dardik, Alan [VerfasserIn]
Blecha, Matthew [VerfasserIn]
Liapis, Christos D [VerfasserIn]
Zeebregts, Clark J [VerfasserIn]
Nederkoorn, Paul J [VerfasserIn]
Poredos, Peter [VerfasserIn]
Gurevich, Victor [VerfasserIn]
Jawien, Arkadiusz [VerfasserIn]
Lanza, Gaetano [VerfasserIn]
Gray, William A [VerfasserIn]
Gupta, Ajay [VerfasserIn]
Svetlikov, Alexei V [VerfasserIn]
Fernandes E Fernandes, Jose [VerfasserIn]
Nicolaides, Andrew N [VerfasserIn]
White, Christopher J [VerfasserIn]
Meschia, James F [VerfasserIn]
Cronenwett, Jack L [VerfasserIn]
Schermerhorn, Marc L [VerfasserIn]
AbuRahma, Ali F [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Asymptomatic carotid stenosis
Carotid artery stenting
Carotid endarterectomy
Journal Article
Review
Stroke
Transcarotid artery revascularization

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 26.02.2024

Date Revised 07.03.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.jvs.2023.11.004

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM364314869