Intracerebral Hemorrhage After Carotid Endarterectomy
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Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal Volume 32 Number 3 Special Issue on Medical Computing Article 11 9-1984 Intracerebral Hemorrhage After Carotid Endarterectomy José Biller Andrew C. Hayes Fred N. Littooy William H. Baker Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal Part of the Life Sciences Commons, Medical Specialties Commons, and the Public Health Commons Recommended Citation Biller, José; Hayes, Andrew C.; Littooy, Fred N.; and Baker, William H. (1984) "Intracerebral Hemorrhage After Carotid Endarterectomy," Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal : Vol. 32 : No. 3 , 197-203. Available at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal/vol32/iss3/11 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Henry Ford Health System Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal by an authorized editor of Henry Ford Health System Scholarly Commons. Henry Ford Hosp Med j Vol 32, No 3, 1984 Case Reports Intracerebral Hemorrhage After Carotid Endarterectomy Jose Biller, MD,* Andrew C. Hayes, PA-C,** Fred N. Littooy, MD,** and William H. Baker, MD** Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a rare complication operatively. The third patient, who was hypertensive, of carotid endarterectomy (CE). In our multicenter se had a nonfatal ipsilateral thalamic hemorrhage on the ries of 1,180 CE (Baker-Littooy), three ICH occurred, of third postoperative day. Though these three patients which two were fatal. One patient was receiving anti represent only 0.25% of our series, they constitute 12% coagulants because ofa prosthetic aortic valve; another of our total strokes. ICH constitutes the largest per had rupture of a known ipsilateral intracranial an centage of nontechnically-related strokes and non- eurysm. Both occurred more than six weeks post cardiac deaths after CE. stroke after carotid endarterectomy is usually ascribed heparin, and a standard endarterectomy was performed to occlusion of the carotid artery, embolization, intimal through a lateral arteriotomy. Her immediate postoperative flap formation, or hemodynamic factors. Intracranial condition was satisfactory, and Doppler ultrasonic exam hemorrhagic complications after this procedure are ination was unremarkable. On the first postoperative day she considered rare. They embrace hemorrhagic infarction, had a three-hour episode of hypertension and incurred a subendocardial anterolateral wall myocardial infarction. No intracerebral hematomas with or without ventricular or neurological abnormalities were noted then, but 36 hours subarachnoid penetration, and instances of hem later, when her blood pressure was 190/80 mm/Hg, she de orrhagic cerebrospinal fluid associated with increased veloped left-sided weakness, left hemiparesis, left-sided as- intracranial pressure. Bruetman and associates (1) re tereognosis, and a left homonymous visual field defect. CT ported six hemorrhagic complications among 900 showed a right thalamic hemorrhage with no interval change (0.66%) patients surgically treated for carotid stenosis or of the previously noted right parietal infarct (Fig. 3). occlusion. More recently Sundt, et al (2,3) noted five cases in a series of 1,145 (0.43%) carotid endarterec- Case 2 tomies. We noted three cases in our series of 1,180 A 70-year-old woman was admitted in October 1978 with a three-week history of ischemic rest pain in the left foot. Past (0.25%) carotid endarterectomies and report our expe medical history was remarkable for valvular heart disease, a rience in conjunction with a review of 36 previously thrombosed prosthetic aortic valve, previous left hemispheric published cases. transient ischemic attacks, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Medications included NPH insulin, digoxin, Cou Case Reports madin, and dipyridamole. Ten days after a left femoropop liteal bypass, transient paralysis of the right upper and lower Case 1 extremities and confusion were noted. CT was obtained and A 63-year-oId woman was admitted in March 1983 for elective was normal. The next day she developed aphasia and right right carotid endarterectomy. Four weeks previously, she had hemiparesis. Repeat CT was unchanged. Partial recovery oc had an episode of headache and persistent left arm and leg curred over the next 24 hours. Cerebral arteriogram revealed numbness. Cranial computerized tomography (CT) at that 99% stenosis atthe origin ofthe left internal carotid artery with time revealed a right superior parietal infarction (Fig. 1). Cer an occluded middle cerebral artery stem (Fig. 4). Heparin was ebral arteriography demonstrated greater than 80% stenosis continued, and on November 7, 1978, a left carotid end of the origin of the right internal carotid artery (Fig. 2) and a arterectomy was performed under general anesthesia. small nonulcerated plaque at the origin of the left internal carotid artery. There was cross filling to the right side, and the Although the patient developed postoperative hypertension posterior cerebral arteries filled from the carotid injection. of 220 mm/Hg systolic (which required sodium nitroprusside The posterior circulation was unremarkable. The patient im for control), her neurological status improved. However, proved steadily. on the second day after endarterectomy, neurological dete rioration was evident, and CT showed a small infarction in the One month later, a right carotid endarterectomy was per formed under general anesthesia. At operation, inspection of the right carotid revealed an atheroma at its bifurcation. After Submitted for publication; june 4, 1984 it was opened, a stenotic lesion was found with old and new Accepted for publication: july 19, 1984 clots situated on the intimal surface. Internal carotid artery Departments of Neurology^ and Surgery^^, Loyola University Medical Center back pressure was 86/60 mm/Hg with a mean of 70 mm/Hg; Address reprint requests to Dr, Biller, Division of Cerebrovascular Disease, systemic pressure was 180/80 mm/Hg. The patient was given Department of Neurology, University of lowa, lowa City, lowa 52242, 197 Biller, Hayes, Littooy, and Baker left basal ganglia (Fig. 5). She had significant recovery of neurological function and was discharged on the tenth postoperative day receiving Coumadin. Two months later she suffered sudden global aphasia, dense right hemiparesis, and lethargy. Prothrombin time was 19.8 seconds (N: 11.0-12.6 seconds), and CT revealed a large intracerebral hematoma located in the left temporal region extending into the external capsule (Fig. 6). She underwent successful removal of the hematoma and was discharged to a nursing home. Case 3 An 84-year-old woman experienced an episode of right mono cular blindness and transient left hemiparesis, but her neu rologic examination was normal. Blood pressure was 150/90 mm/Hg. Cerebral arteriography demonstrated severe stenosis of the internal carotid arteries bilaterally and an incidental 5 x 10 mm left internal carotid - posterior communicating junction aneurysm. Aphasia developed after angiography when left carotid endarterectomy was performed. Back pressure was 32/29 mm/Hg with a systemic pressure of 198/76 mm/Hg. The aphasia gradually resolved, but seven months later she was found comatose and died the same day. Autopsy revealed that the previously noted aneurysm had ruptured. A previously unrecognized 2 mm aneurysm was found in the right middle cerebral artery, and a small cystic infarction had occurred in the left parieto-occipital junction (4). Fig. 1. Case 1. CT scan obtained at time of original symptoms demonstrates low density area in right superior parietal region consistent with an ischemic infarction. Fig. 2. Case 1. Fig. 3. Case 1. Selective right carotid arteriogram demonstrates severe internal carotid CT scan obtained three days after right carotid endarterectomy, demon artery stenosis and ulceration. strates right thalamic hemorrhage. Area of prior infarction was un changed (not shown). 198 Intracerebral Hemorrhage After Carotid Endarterectomy Fig. 6. Case 2. CT scan demonstrates large left lateral ganglionic hemorrhage with mass effect. Fig. 4. Case 2. Selective left carotid arteriogram shows severe stenosis at origin of internal carotid and occlusion of middle cerebral artery system. Discussion Intracerebral hemorrhage following carotid end arterectomy is rare, and elevated blood pressure has usually been implicated as the primary risk factor. Hemorrhage most often occurs in the area of previous infarction, ipsilateral to the operation. In order to evaluate more completely the mechanism(s) of this complication, we have reviewed the reported cases of ICH after carotid endarterectomy. In addition to our three patients, we have reviewed 36 previously reported cases (1-3, 5-14), details of which are illustrated in the Table. During the past two dec ades, indications for carotid endarterectomy have changed, and some of these patients would not now be referred for surgery. Thirteen patients had operations to reopen occluded internal carotid arteries, most within days of a stroke. Three additional patients underwent surgery for severe internal carotid artery stenosis within five days of a major stroke. For six patients, information about the severity of neurologic deficit and the timing of endarterectomy was incomplete. Only 14 of these 36 patients had generally acceptable indications for operation. In three patients emergency Fig. 5. Case 2. surgery was undertaken for complications of an Immediate postoperative