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Study Finds Mental Gains in a Neck Artery Treatment
NY Times ^ | April 1, 2006 | BARNABY J. FEDER

Posted on 04/01/2006 7:42:25 AM PST by neverdem

Patients who underwent a minimally invasive procedure to reduce their risk of a stroke by clearing plaque from neck arteries had unexpected gains in memory and mental skills, according to a study that will be presented today at a medical conference in Toronto.

If the results are confirmed by other trials, wider use of the procedure may allow many elderly people to continue to live independently, said Dr. Rodney Raabe, the radiologist who led the research team at the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash.

The procedure is known as carotid stenting and has been recently developed as an alternative to painful neck surgery, which about 150,000 Americans undergo annually at a cost of some $2 billion. It relies on tiny devices maneuvered through the circulatory system to the carotid arteries in the neck from a small incision in the thigh. Doctors inflate a balloon to push the plaque into the vessel wall and then implant a metal mesh scaffold, or stent, to keep the artery open.

Dr. Raabe's research team had set out hoping to find that stenting reduced stroke risks without damaging mental abilities. While stenting typically improves blood flow to the brain, it also unleashes a temporary shower of microdebris that can disrupt brain functions, occasionally causing fatal strokes or other serious harm.

The team enrolled 100 patients over the last two years to look at whether using a filter to catch most of the debris during the procedure would reduce the disruptions so patients suffered no mental impairment.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Canada; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: carotidstenting; health; medicare; medicine; memory; stents; stroke

1 posted on 04/01/2006 7:42:27 AM PST by neverdem
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To: neverdem

Blood-Brain Barrier Bump


2 posted on 04/01/2006 8:32:21 AM PST by Solamente (Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out)
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To: neverdem

My FIL had the neck surgery and his mild dementia became worse after the procedure. I don't know about the stents, sounds encouraging.


3 posted on 04/01/2006 8:49:26 AM PST by MRobert (MRobert)
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To: neverdem

sounds expensive. wonder if they have a 'do it yourself' kit?

;-)


4 posted on 04/01/2006 8:50:34 AM PST by cd jones (Liberals: spreading misery, calling it equality)
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To: neverdem
carotid stenting and has been recently developed as an alternative to painful neck surgery, . It relies on tiny devices maneuvered through the circulatory system to the carotid arteries in the neck from a small incision in the thigh.

Wish my husband could have this procedure. By the time his arterial disease was diagnosed they could not get a cather through his groin.

5 posted on 04/01/2006 9:03:49 AM PST by BARLF
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