The ELANA research group is in process of analyzing the retrospective data of 63 patients with carotid and MCA occlusions (example: figure 4). It seems that the outcome is profitable for patients and therefore justifies a pilot trail to compare an Ec-Ic ELANA bypass to the conventional Ec-Ic STA-MCA bypass in a selected group of ischemic patients with hemodynamical cerebral ischemia. This trail is probably going to take of in the UMC Utrecht approximately medio 2008.
Figure 4: A 62 year old male suffered since 6 months from attacks of severe weakness in his right leg and arm, occurring every week. He had continuously an unstable gait and dysphasia.
Left: The CTA shows an occluded ICA(red arrow)
Middle: Intraoperatively the ICA showed severe calcification. This is not a suitable spot for any anastomosis.
Right: However, the ACA showed a healthy looking spot, suitable for an ELANA anastomosis. The 2.6 ring shown was used.
External carotid artery to anterior cerebral artery bypass with 230 cc/min flow (MRF measurement). Patient had no complications, within 3 weeks he was playing golf again and his speech was significantly improved.
Also in bypass surgery for patient with hemodynamic cerebral ischemia, the ELANA bypass seems a valuable addition to the treatment armamentarium of the vascular neurosurgeon. For more information and patient referral, please contact dr A. van der Zwan or Prof dr C.A.F. Tulleken. Use the following link: Contact