151751-Najiba-Chargi

164 CHAPTER 9 ARTERIAL CALCIFICATION AND UNIVARIABLE ANALYSIS Distribution of arterial calcifications is shown in Table 1. Arterial calcifications of the aortic artery and carotid branches were a common finding. In contrast, arterial calcifications in the vertebral arteries were rare. Only 3 patients (1.3%) had no arterial calcifications. In 16 patients (7.1% of total), at most mild calcifications were seen. Of those 16 patients, one patient had a PCF (Pearson Chi square test: p = 0.05). For subsequent analysis calcification scores were divided in two groups: none to mild calcifications, and moderate to severe calcifications. Table 1. Distribution of arterial calcification on preoperative CT images Anatomical location Calcification scores n (% of total) Missing n (% of total) 0 - Absent 1 - Mild 2 - Moderate 3 - Severe Ascending aorta 78 (34.8) 49 (21.9) 20 (8.9) 30 (13.4) 47 (21.0) Aortic arch 37 (16.5) 28 (12.5) 56 (25.0) 78 (34.8) 25 (11.2) Descending aorta 43 (19.2) 27 (12.1) 27 (12.1) 77 (34.4) 50 (22.3) Origo of the brachiocephalic arteries 31 (13.8) 30 (13.4) 36 (16.1) 117 (52.2) 10 (4.5) Left extracranial carotid artery 37 (16.5) 24 (10.7) 46 (20.5) 116 (51.8) 1 (0.4) Right extracranial carotid artery 39 (17.4) 30 (13.4) 45 (20.1) 109 (48.7) 1 (0.4) Left vertebral artery 176 (78.6) 18 (8.0) 13 (5.8) 13 (5.8) 4 (1.8) Right vertebral artery 181 (80.8) 17 (7.6) 13 (5.8) 9 (4.0) 4 (1.8) Left carotid siphon 33 (14.7) 31 (13.8) 46 (20.5) 104 (46.4) 10 (4.5) Right carotid siphon 35 (15.6) 32 (14.3) 40 (17.9) 107 (47.6) 10 (4.5) Distribution of arterial calcification among patients with and without PCF and univariable odds ratios are shown in Table 3. Arterial calcifications in all anatomical locations apart from the vertebral arteries were more frequently observed in patients who had a PCF, which is shown in Table 3. Arterial calcification of the aorta descendens (OR 2.32 [1.25-4.29], p = 0.01), origo of the bra - chiocephalic arteries (OR 2.14 [1.05-4.35], p = 0.04), right extracranial carotid artery (OR 2.05 [1.03-4.09], p = 0.04) and left carotid siphon (OR 2.26 [1.12 - 4.59], p = 0.02) were significantly associated with PCF formation. A higher total arterial calcification score was significantly associated with PCF formation (OR 1.06 [1.01-1.11], p = 0.03).