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Spontaneous recanalization of an atherosclerotic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion has been previously reported as a rare phenomenon, but spontaneous re-occlusion shortly after recanalization under antiplatelet therapy has not been documented yet. A 63-year-old man presented with impaired consciousness and left-sided hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed new infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory because of right cervical internal carotid artery occlusion, which became spontaneously patent on computed tomography angiography on the sixth day of admission. So carotid endarterectomy was planned. However, the ICA was recurrently occluded on the preoperative magnetic resonance angiogram three weeks later on admission, which condition was also confirmed during the subsequent surgery. In patients with severe ICA stenosis, patency may dynamically change even under antiplatelet therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining available therapies has the potential to reduce the risk of stroke by 80% or more. A comprehensive review of all aspects of stroke prevention would be very lengthy; in this narrative review, we focus on some aspects of stroke prevention that are little-known and/or neglected. These include the following: (1) implementation of a Mediterranean diet; (2) B vitamins to lower homocysteine; (3) coordinated approaches to smoking cessation; (4) intensive lipid-lowering therapy; (5) lipid lowering in the elderly; (6) physiologically individualized therapy for hypertension based on renin/aldosterone phenotyping; (7) avoiding excessive blood pressure reduction in patients with stiff arteries; (8) treatment of insulin resistance with pioglitazone in stroke patients with prediabetes and diabetes; (9) impaired activation of clopidogrel in patients with variants of CYP2C19; (10) aspirin pseudoresistance due to enteric coating; (11) rationale for anticoagulation in patients with embolic stroke of unknown source; (12) pharmacologic properties of direct-acting oral anticoagulants that should be considered when choosing among them; (13) the identification of which patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis are at a high enough risk to benefit from carotid endarterectomy or stenting; and (14) the importance of age in choosing between endarterectomy and stenting. Stroke prevention could be improved by better recognition of these issues and by implementation of the principles derived from them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual and single antiplatelet therapies are routinely used in carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA). However, the efficacy and safety of these therapies are controversial. The present study aimed to comprehensively compare the clinical outcomes between dual and single antiplatelet therapies in CEA. This study retrieved available academic studies evaluating the complications related to antiplatelet therapy between dual and single antiplatelet therapies in CEA from the databases of ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed. References to previous reviews and related clinical trials were manually checked to retrieve potential literature that was not included in our electronic search results. A total of 10 articles (1 randomized controlled trial, 9 non-randomized controlled trials) were included in the study. The overall number of patients in the dual antiplatelet group was 14,280, and the number of patients in the single antiplatelet group was 125,850. The results revealed that the single antiplatelet group had a lower incidence of 30-day death (rate difference [RD] 0.002; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.000–0.003; P = 0.014), neck hematoma (odds ratio [OR] 2.120; 95% CI 1.431–3.142; P < 0.001), myocardial infarction (RD 0.004; 95% CI 0.001–0.007; P = 0.003), and major bleeding (RD 0.005; 95% CI 0.002–0.008; P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the single antiplatelet group was associated with a shorter operation time (weighted mean difference 4.000; 95% CI= 2.564–5.436; P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the rate of postoperative transient ischemic attack (P = 0.215), stroke (P = 0.130), or length of stay (P = 0.563). Based on current evidence, using single antiplatelet therapy in CEA may reduce operation time and the incidences of 30-day death, neck hematoma, major bleeding, and myocardial infarction without increasing the risks of transient ischemic attack, stroke, or a longer operation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The influence of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants on hemorrhagic complications and the development of ischaemic brain lesions during carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) was studied. Methods: During 559 CEAs antithrombotic therapy, as administrated by a referral doctor, was kept. The influence of antithrombotic therapy on the: 1. incidence of wound hematoma; 2. incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hematoma after CEA; 3. length of hospital stay; 4. incidence of new brain ischaemic lesions were studied. Results: In total, wound hematoma was found in 43 (7.69%) cases. Of those there were: 1. 2.94% in „no antithrombotic” group; 2. 5.18% (p = 0.55) in the acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)/ASA + derivates group; 3. 18.36% (p = 0.008) in clopidogrel group; 4. 0% in ticlopidin group; 5. 20% = 0.022) in low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) group; 6. 19.05% (p = 0.026) in LMWH + ASA group; 7. 36,36% (p = 0.003) in clopidogrel + ASA group. Incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hematoma after CEA was 0.89% in five cases. The mean length of hospital stay was 4.7 days for uncomplicated cases, 5.1 days for cases with hematoma without reoperation and 7.2 days for cases with hematoma with reoperation. Incidence of new ischaemic lesions after CEA was 10.91%, not related to antithrombotic therapy (p > 0.18). Conclusion: Clopidogrel, LMWH and LMWH + ASA groups showed app. 4 times higher risk of wound hematoma, dual antiplatelet therapy 5.5 times higher compared to ASA therapy only. Therefore, their use preoperatively in CEA should be restricted for cases of symptomatic stenosis with high recurrent risk of stroke. No influence of antithrombotics on the incidence of new ischaemic brain lesions dur i ng CEA was showed. Práca [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To present the main advances and projections related with ischemic stroke management. Development: This article look at some recent aspects considered in specialized journals about: 1) Definition of stroke types, 2) Genetic risk factors of ischemic stroke, 3) Neuroimaging paradigm in ischemic stroke, 4) Telemedicine for stroke (telestroke), 5) Antithrombotic use (oral dual antiagregante therapy, periprocedural management of antithrombotic, prevention with direct action oral anticoagulants, extension of thrombolytic time to 4.5 hours after onset), 6) Evolution of approach regarding endovascular techniques, 7) Stem cells administration for brain infarction, 8) Therapies for malignant hemispheric brain edema, 9) Blood pressure levels regulation in stroke, and 10) Identification of pharmacological intervention (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for aid in motor recovery. Conclusions: A review was carried out about main advances and trends for research and clinical practice of ischemic stroke. The consideration of implementation limiting factors is vital for perfection of stroke patient management. For the implementation of this advances are required an increase consciousness and public education about stroke, protocols improvement for stroke centers, development of stroke certification process and stroke capabilities, and economic and legislative support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been major advances in stroke treatment based on robust evidence from large clinical trials. This review covers both acute treatment and secondary prevention. Thrombolysis is now established as a therapy for ischaemic stroke presenting within 3 hours, and the possibility of extending the time window and refining the selection of suitable patients, is being addressed in further trials. Anticoagulants are of proven benefit in cardioembolic stroke, and particularly atrial fibrillation. For prevention of other stroke subtypes antiplatelet agents appear to have a better risk-benefit ratio. Evidence for the use of dual antiplatelet therapy, including the recent MATCH study, are discussed. Carotid endarterectomy is of proven benefit in patients with>70% symptomatic stenosis. Recent analysis has emphasised the importance of operating as soon after symptom onset as possible. Operating on asymptomatic carotid stenosis remains controversial; even after the recent Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial which showed that by operating on 32 people one disabling stroke or death could be prevented over a 5 years period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of stroke and risk factors peak in subjects ≥75 years. Highest risk patients benefit most from effective therapy. For this reason, all strategies of proven value in stroke prevention must be assiduously applied. Control of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and cessation of cigarette smoking are obligatory at all ages but are of special importance in the elderly. Antithrombotic drugs have been proven beneficial for patients at high risk. Lower risk subjects, including those with asymptomatic carotid artery disease, gain no proven benefit from anti-platelet drugs. Patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), a condition that increases with age, require anticoagulant therapy. Strict regulation of the INR is required otherwise aspirin is recommended. Without evidence of organ failure, elderly patients with severely stenotic symptomatic carotid artery disease should receive endarterectomy. They benefit most. The evidence for benefit from endarterectomy in asymptomatic subjects at any age is weak and cannot be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]