Biomaterial Database

Extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass surgery for occlusive carotid artery disease. 2010

Felix Fluri, and Stefan Engelter, and Philippe Lyrer

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, Basel, Switzerland, 4031.

BACKGROUND The EC/IC Bypass Study Group found no benefit of extracranial to intracranial (EC/IC) bypass surgery over medical therapy in patients with symptomatic carotid artery occlusion (sCAO). However, the study was criticised for many reasons and the real effect of this treatment is still not known conclusively. OBJECTIVE To determine whether bypass surgery plus medical care is superior to medical care alone in patients with sCAO. METHODS We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched June 2009). In addition, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to June 2009) and EMBASE (1980 to June 2009). We also searched ongoing trials and research registers, checked reference lists of relevant articles, and contacted colleagues, trial authors and researchers. METHODS Randomised controlled trials (RCT) and non-random studies of EC/IC bypass surgery plus best medical treatment compared with best medical treatment alone to prevent subsequent stroke, improve cerebral haemodynamics and reduce dependency after stroke. METHODS Two review authors independently selected studies for inclusion, and extracted data items on the number of outcome events onto a data extraction form. We only analysed secondary outcomes if the study provided information on at least one primary outcome. We also used intention-to-treat analysis where possible. RESULTS We included 21 trials, including two RCTs, involving 2591 patients. For all endpoints, no benefit of EC/IC bypass surgery was shown either in the RCTs (any death: odds ratio (OR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62 to 1.05, P = 0.11; stroke: OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.23, P = 0.91; death and dependency: OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.21, P = 0.64), or in the non-RCTs (any death: OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.62, P = 0.99; stroke: OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.18, P = 0.25; death and dependency: OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.29, P = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS EC/IC bypass surgery in patients with sCAO disease was neither superior nor inferior to medical care alone. However, most studies included patients irrespective of their cerebral haemodynamics. Participation in an ongoing RCT, which is restricted to patients with impaired haemodynamics, is recommended as these patients might benefit from bypass surgery.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002340	Carotid Artery Diseases	Pathological conditions involving the CAROTID ARTERIES, including the common, internal, and external carotid arteries. ATHEROSCLEROSIS and TRAUMA are relatively frequent causes of carotid artery pathology.	Carotid Atherosclerosis,Common Carotid Artery Disease,Internal Carotid Artery Disease,Arterial Diseases, Carotid,Arterial Diseases, Common Carotid,Arterial Diseases, External Carotid,Arterial Diseases, Internal Carotid,Atherosclerotic Disease, Carotid,Carotid Artery Disorders,Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease,Common Carotid Artery Diseases,External Carotid Artery Diseases,Internal Carotid Artery Diseases,Arterial Disease, Carotid,Artery Disease, Carotid,Artery Diseases, Carotid,Artery Disorder, Carotid,Artery Disorders, Carotid,Atherosclerotic Diseases, Carotid,Carotid Arterial Disease,Carotid Arterial Diseases,Carotid Artery Disease,Carotid Artery Disorder,Carotid Atheroscleroses,Carotid Atherosclerotic Diseases,Disorders, Carotid Artery
D002548	Cerebral Revascularization	Microsurgical revascularization to improve intracranial circulation. It usually involves joining the extracranial circulation to the intracranial circulation but may include extracranial revascularization (e.g., subclavian-vertebral artery bypass, subclavian-external carotid artery bypass). It is performed by joining two arteries (direct anastomosis or use of graft) or by free autologous transplantation of highly vascularized tissue to the surface of the brain.	Brain Revascularization,EC-IC Arterial Bypass,Extracranial-Intracranial Arterial Bypass,Microsurgical Revascularization, Cerebral,STA-MCA Bypass,Cerebral Microsurgical Revascularization,Arterial Bypass, EC-IC,Arterial Bypass, Extracranial-Intracranial,Arterial Bypasses, EC-IC,Arterial Bypasses, Extracranial-Intracranial,Bypass, EC-IC Arterial,Bypass, Extracranial-Intracranial Arterial,Bypass, STA-MCA,Bypasses, EC-IC Arterial,Bypasses, Extracranial-Intracranial Arterial,Bypasses, STA-MCA,Cerebral Microsurgical Revascularizations,EC IC Arterial Bypass,EC-IC Arterial Bypasses,Extracranial Intracranial Arterial Bypass,Extracranial-Intracranial Arterial Bypasses,Revascularization, Brain,Revascularization, Cerebral,Revascularization, Cerebral Microsurgical,STA MCA Bypass,STA-MCA Bypasses
D003131	Combined Modality Therapy	The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used.	Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001157	Arterial Occlusive Diseases	Pathological processes which result in the partial or complete obstruction of ARTERIES. They are characterized by greatly reduced or absence of blood flow through these vessels. They are also known as arterial insufficiency.	Arterial Obstructive Diseases,Arterial Occlusion,Arterial Obstructive Disease,Arterial Occlusions,Arterial Occlusive Disease,Disease, Arterial Obstructive,Disease, Arterial Occlusive,Obstructive Disease, Arterial,Occlusion, Arterial,Occlusive Disease, Arterial