Carotid Artery Diseases

The purpose of this registry is to evaluate the long-term safety and performance of Intervascular Vascular Grafts and Patches (Intergard Standard, Hemashield, Intergard Silver, Intergard Synergy) for bypass, repair or replacement of aortic, peripheral, or carotid arteries. This registry is intended to further define the expected product lifetime of the devices and to collect data related to usefulness of the antimicrobial coatings.

PREVENER is a randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase IV clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a carotid ultrasound-based strategy for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD). Patients with IRD, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have a 50% higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) events compared to the general population. However, conventional CV risk scores (SCORE2/OP) systematically underestimate this risk, leaving many high-risk patients without appropriate preventive treatment. Patients aged ≥50 years with IRD and low-to-moderate CV risk according to SCORE2/OP will be randomized 1:1 to either an experimental group (carotid ultrasound to detect subclinical atherosclerosis) or a control group (standard care according to ESC 2021 guidelines). Patients in the experimental group with carotid plaques will be reclassified as very high CV risk and treated with high-intensity statins (LDL target \<55 mg/dL). The primary endpoint is the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over 48 months of follow-up.

The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) has not been established in randomized controlled trials. Current practice largely extrapolates from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) trials, but anatomical and procedural differences between coronary and carotid arteries limit the validity of this approach. The CHET trial is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, superiority trial designed to compare two DAPT durations after CAS in patients at HBR. After CAS, all eligible patients receive aspirin (100 mg daily) and clopidogrel (75 mg daily) for a 30-day enrichment period. Patients who remain free of net clinical events at day 30 are randomized 1:1 to either single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT; aspirin 100 mg or clopidogrel 75 mg daily, at the treating physician's discretion) for 11 months, or continued DAPT for 11 months. The primary hypothesis is that abbreviated DAPT followed by SAPT is superior to prolonged DAPT in reducing clinically significant bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium \[BARC\] type 2, 3, or 5) from 30 days to 12 months after CAS, while maintaining noninferiority in net clinical outcomes (composite of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, and major bleeding \[BARC type 3 or 5\]). A total of 1,556 participants (778 per group) will be enrolled across multiple comprehensive stroke centers in the Republic of Korea. Patients will be followed at 5 and 11 months after randomization, with subsequent annual follow-up (in-person or by telephone) until study completion to capture long-term clinical events.

The goal of this observational study, called OMICA (Oral Microbiome in Carotid Atherosclerosis), is to learn how bacteria living in the mouth may influence the development and stability of plaques in the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Plaque buildup in these arteries can lead to stroke. Researchers want to understand whether certain oral bacteria are linked to plaque vulnerability, meaning a higher chance that the plaque will rupture and cause a stroke. The study will include a cohort of adults scheduled for carotid endarterectomy at Semmelweis University. Participants will be enrolled in the Semmelweis University Carotid Biobank project. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Do people with more severe gum disease or tooth infection have a higher number of bacteria in their carotid plaques, and are those plaques more likely to rupture? Are the bacteria found in vulnerable plaques different from those in stable plaques? Are similar bacteria found in the mouth, gut, and plaques, suggesting that bacteria may travel through the body? What participants will do: Have their oral health checked before surgery, including an exam of gum disease and tooth infections. Provide microbiome samples from the mouth, anus, urine, and carotid plaque (taken during surgery). Have preoperative photon-counting computed tomography (CT) performed to assess plaque stability and study eligibility. All samples and imaging data will be analyzed to identify bacterial species and their relationship to plaque type. The study does not involve any experimental treatment or medication. Participation adds no significant medical risk beyond standard care. Researchers will compare bacterial patterns between people with vulnerable plaques and those with stable plaques to identify microbial signatures linked to carotid plaque instability. The results may help create future microbiome-based risk models for detecting people at higher risk of stroke or severe atherosclerosis.

Active inflammation plays a key role in causing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Since inflammation is so important in how these diseases start, are diagnosed, and treated, being able to see it clearly in each patient could lead to more personalized and effective care - and may help prevent heart attacks. Right now, there's no imaging technology available to clearly see inflammation inside the coronary arteries. The investigators hope to learn how an imaging drug; called LUMISIGHT (Pegulicianine) can help detect inflammation in blood vessels compared with saline. If the investigators find out that LUMISIGHT is active in humans, the investigators might be able to use it for detecting plaque risk in the future.

Prospective, Multi-center, Single-arm Study of the Shockwave Medical SkyRunner Carotid Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System for the Treatment of Calcified Carotid Arteries Prior to Trans-Femoral stenting (SKYWARD Trans-Femoral IDE Study)

Prospective, Multi-center, Single-arm Study of the Shockwave Medical SkyRunner Carotid Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System for the Treatment of Calcified Carotid Arteries prior to Trans-Carotid Stenting (SKYWARD Trans-Carotid IDE Study)

The objective of C2R is to promote the rapid initiation and completion of enrollment in the CREST-2 randomized clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT02089217). Patients with severe symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery occlusive disease will be treated with carotid artery stenting (CAS) performed by experienced and skilled interventionists. Interventionists' eligibility will be determined by a multi-specialty Interventional Management Committee (IMC). Patient eligibility will include patients with standard or high-risk, symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Patients will be followed for the occurrence of post-procedural complications. The primary safety and quality endpoint will be the occurrence of any stroke or death within the 30-day period following the stenting procedure. The safety and quality results from C2R will guide selection of interventionists for participation in the CREST-2 randomized clinical trial. Enrollment into C2R will begin in 2015 and continue until publication of the primary results of the randomized trial.

Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) was initially described as a clinical complication following carotid endarterectomy (CEA), but it may occur after both CEA and carotid artery stenting. It is characterised by throbbing ipsilateral frontotemporal or periorbital headache, and sometimes diffuse headache, eye and facial pain, vomiting, confusion, macular oedema, visual disturbances, focal motor seizures with frequent secondary generalisation, focal neurological deficits, and intracerebral or subarachnoid haemorrhage. Knowledge of CHS among physicians remains limited. Most studies report an incidence of 1-3% after carotid endarterectomy. CHS is most common in patients with increases of more than 100% in cerebral perfusion compared with baseline after carotid revascularization, and is rare in patients with perfusion increases of less than 100% compared with baseline. The pathophysiological mechanism of CHS is only partially understood. The chronic low-flow state induced by severe carotid disease results in compensatory dilation of cerebral vessels distal to the stenosis, as part of the normal autoregulatory response to maintain adequate cerebral blood flow (CBF). In this chronically dilated state, the vessels lose their ability to autoregulate vascular resistance in response to changes in blood pressure. Dysautoregulation has been shown to be proportional to the duration and severity of chronic hypoperfusion. After revascularization and reperfusion, impaired cerebral autoregulation may contribute to a cascade of intracranial microcirculatory changes, with an inability to respond adequately to the augmentation of CBF following carotid recanalization. Although most patients present with mild symptoms and signs, progression to severe and life-threatening complications can occur if CHS is not recognised and treated promptly. Because CHS is diagnosed on the basis of several non-specific signs and symptoms, patients may be misdiagnosed as having one of the better-known causes of perioperative complications, such as thromboembolism.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of the Trans-Carotid Artery Occlusion Shunt System for Carotid Artery Revascularization during Endovascular Treatment

The objective of this study is to evaluate acute device and technical success of the CGuard Prime™ Carotid Stent System (80cm) when used in conjunction with the Enroute NPS during Transcarotid Artery Revascularization procedures in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis in spatients at high risk for adverse events from carotid endarterectomy.

patients scheduled for carotid endoarterectomy will be randomly assigned to a group in which arterial hypotension will be avoided by a predictive haemodynamic approach or to a group in which arterial hypotension will be treated in a standard manner

The objective of the study is to evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of the Trans-Carotid Artery Occlusion Shunt System Combined with Introducer Sets for Cerebral Protection During Carotid Angioplasty

This prospective study investigated associations between circulating miRNAs and symptomatic and asymptomatic ICAS, carotid plaque morphology and future cardiovascular events.

Carotid stenosis are asymptomatic if no hemispheric or retinal symptoms have appeared in the 6 months preceding the discovery of the stenosis. Asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) accounts for about ¾ of all carotid lesions. The goal of treating carotid stenosis is to prevent a stroke. While carotid surgery is recommended in the elderly patients in cases of symptomatic carotid stenosis, that of ACS in patients over 75 years old, even when tight, remains subject to many controversies. Indeed, the debate, concerning the benefit to be expected from a surgical procedure or a possible angioplasty procedure, is not yet closed. The aim of our study, through a retrospective evaluation of the results of all consecutive carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and stenting in the participating center.

The root cause of heart attacks and strokes is atherosclerosis, the hardening and thickening of blood vessels due to the presence of "plaque" which is a build-up of fat and cholesterol in the walls of vessels. To diagnose heart disease, patients receive a stress test to find out if they require surgery. Up to 52% of patients receiving an angiogram (surgery) to look at plaque blockages in the heart are found to be normal (no blockage). Patients who are suspected of having heart disease often undergo a stress test, which helps cardiologists decide if the patient has heart disease, but stress tests can give false results. In Ontario alone, 90% are stress tests are found to be normal and patients are sent home with little follow-up. Of these 3-5% (\~4,000 patients/year) will have a major cardiovascular event (heart attack, surgery, or death) within 3 years. We need to improve the stress test accuracy to reduce cardiac outcome. We now know that it is not just the total amount of plaque that leads to heart attacks and strokes, but the composition of the plaque that can lead to breakage causing a heart attack. Plaques are soft and fragile, and typically contain fat and small leaky blood vessels within their cores. If we are able to identify patients that have leaky plaques using ultrasound, we may be able to improve the accuracy of stress testing. We propose a study looking at the combination of stress testing (assessing heart function) and neck ultrasound (assessing plaque composition), to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular events (heart attacks and death). We will enrol patients from 6 sites across Canada and follow-them for cardiac outcome for 3 years.

Decreased blood flow to the brain can cause decreased cognitive function. Carotid disease can result in decreased blood flow to the brain. The investigators seek to assess this relationship prospectively through performing a battery of neurocognitive assessments, collection of serum markers of inflammation, and through neuroimaging at two points before intervention (2 months and 1 month before stenting) and at two points after intervention (1 month and 2 months after intervention). The goal is to provide prospective evidence to identify the extent to which carotid stenosis and hypoperfusion of the brain results in diminished neurocognitive performance, and see if serum biomarkers before and after stenting correlate with these findings.

One treatment option of internal carotid artery stenosis is open surgical endarterectomy. The operation is frequently carried out under regional plexus anesthesia, allowing the patient to remain awake during the procedure. This approach offers the advantage of monitoring for neurological changes during carotid artery clamping, allowing the surgical team to immediately respond by placing a shunt to ensure cerebral perfusion. As a result, performing surgery under regional anesthesia provides therefor a benefit. However, for patients, the procedure, which can last up to two hours or longer in some cases, may pose a significant burden. The fixed position, inability to move, sterile drapes over the face, manipulation by the surgical team, and anxiety about potential complications are just a few of the factors that may distress patients during the operation. Increased sweating and reports of substantial subjective distress are not uncommon if the procedure is performed under local anesthesia. In many medical fields, devices and therapies are now being utilized to reduce patient stress in the perioperative setting. In procedures performed under local or regional anesthesia, such as in orthopedics or dentistry, efforts are being made to make operations more tolerable and less stressful for patients. For example, music and video goggles are employed to entertain and distract patients during the intervention. Newer approaches using video googles appear in more and more fields to reduce distress. Especially in vascular surgery and particularly in carotid surgery, the use of audiovisual distraction during the procedure has not been implemented to our knowledge, and its benefits remain undocumented. Because of the special setting and burden for the patients it is highly necessary to test these devices in carotid surgery and explore potential benefits for these patients.

Analyzing results of carotid graft interposition with and without flow preservation through external carotid artery after endarterectomy.

The present study aims at assessing the ability of 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT for the detection of inflammatory atheromatous plaques in the carotid arteries, compared to 18F-FDG PET/CT, MRI and US and to determine the contribution of each imaging technique. Current gold standard for inflammation is histopathology. Hypothesis : 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD might give a better initial evaluation of patients with atheromatous plaques in the carotid artery eligible for endarterectomy.

Patients with tandem occlusion or tandem lesion (TL), that is, stroke with an acute intracranial anterior circulation occlusion and an ipsilateral cervical ICA (c-ICA) high-grade stenosis or occlusion, constitute about 15-20% of patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). However, the optimal treatment of acute stroke patients with TL remains uncertain, as relatively few patients with TL were included in the major randomized controlled trials of EVT and management of the c-ICA was generally not specified by protocol nor analyzed post-hoc. Recent large multi-centre retrospective cases series suggest that acutely stented patients may have more favorable outcomes than patients treated with angioplasty alone or those with no acute ICA intervention, but high quality randomized trial data are lacking. EASI-TOC, a phase 3, academic multi-centre, controlled trial (PROBE design) with embedded pilot phase, will seek to determine if in patients undergoing acute intracranial thrombectomy for anterior circulation stroke with concurrent ipsilateral symptomatic high-grade (≥70%) atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion of the extracranial ICA, endovascular ICA revascularization with stenting is superior to intracranial thrombectomy alone with regards to functional outcome at 90 days. Patients will be randomized to Acute stenting or No acute stenting (1:1 allocation).

The majority (\>80%) of strokes are of ischemic etiology, of which ≈15% to 20% are attributable to atherosclerosis of the extracranial carotid arteries. The primary goal in carotid artery revascularization is to prevent stroke in patients with carotid artery stenosis. Treatment options including carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS). Hence, the investigators aim to compare carotid artery stenting (CAS) with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in terms of long-term prognostic endpoints. Also, CEA and CAS result in different postoperative geometric features of carotid arteries that entail relevant modifications of rheological parameters, that may be associated with the risk of local complications and carotid artery restenosis. Finally, long-term and sustained cognitive benefits after carotid artery revascularization need further research and evidence.

All-comer study of unselected patients suitable for carotid artery revascularization to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of first line endovascular revasculariztion using MicroNet covered stent (CGuard™) in the treatment of consecutive symptomatic and increased-stroke-risk asymptomatic carotid lesions that require revascularization by Neurovascular Team decision.