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Background: The identification of gaseous emboli using Doppler ultrasound was described as early as the 1960s. Recently it has been demonstrated that this method can also detect solid emboli such as thrombi and platelet aggregates. This may make this technology useful in a large number of patients with, or at risk of, embolic stroke. Summary of Review: Emboli appear as short-duration, high-inte...

Assisted venous drainage is a recent development in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and was introduced to overcome limitations in achieving adequate blood flow through small diameter cannulas used in minimally invasive surgery. The more common application, vacuum assisted venous drainage (VAVD) is now widely used in both adult and pediatric CPB. During a clinical investigation into pharmacological...

Artificial embolization of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was produced in the primate, with a technique similar to that described by Luessenhop and Spence (1960) for the treatment of an inoperable arteriovenous malformation in the territory of the MCA. Silicone spheres (1 to 1.5 mm in diameter) were introduced into the internal carotid artery (ICA) via the external carotid artery (ECA). Embol...

The pathogenesis of embolic events ipsilateral to an occluded carotid artery is uncertain. To examine this question we combined occlusion of the left common carotid artery with embolism from the right common carotid artery in rats. Following ligation of the left carotid artery in 20 experimental rats, we irradiated the right carotid artery with a laser (632 nm, 200 mW/cm2, 12-15 minutes) follow...

In order to study the effects of septic embolism on the brain, silicone rubber emboli of various types were injected into the carotid arteries of 35 dogs. Pathologic and angiographic studies were performed to assess the resultant arterial and parenchymal lesions. Pure silicone rubber emboli (14 dogs) produced occasional intra-arterial thrombosis but no arteritis. Sterile and bacterially contami...