"Silent" brain ischemic lesion after revascularization of brachiocephalic arteries

Neurological complications of cerebral revascularization should be considered in accordance with silent cerebral ischemic lesions concept. We investigated 100 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and 100 patients who underwent carotid angioplasty with stent placement (CAS) of the carotid arteries. Brain MRI studies were performed before and after the intervention. We identified embolism predictors for each method of revascularization. After CEA, the predictors are: patient age, absence of anterior connective artery from MRI angioscanning data, atrial fibrillation and use of intraluminal shunt. Predictors for CAS: embolus atherosclerotic plaque of the carotid artery and atrial fibrillation.