Abstract Negative changes in cardiovascular and autonomic variables in stroke survivors have encouraged the global scientific community to focus on investigating therapeutic strategies to mitigate stroke damage. The objective of the present study was to describe the effects of exercise training on cardiovascular and autonomic variables in stroke survivors. We used the PICO (population, intervention, control/comparison, and outcome variables) model for the search of articles in PubMed and Physiotherapy Evidence Databases from 2009 to December 2018. The following data were also recorded: type of study, author, year of publication, participants (time after stroke, sample size, and age) and benefits of exercise training. A total of 544 articles were initially selected, of which nine peer-reviewed articles met the search criteria. These nine studies enrolled 611 participants (middle-aged or elderly), and pointed to positive effects of training on maximal oxygen uptake, peak aerobic capacity, 6-minute walk test and resting heart rate. However, more well-controlled studies are needed to confirm the benefits of exercise training on cardiovascular and autonomic variables in this population.

In head and neck surgery, the common carotid arteries are important landmarks, defining dissection plane during radical neck surgeries. The objectives of the present study were to add information on the diameter of the carotid arteries and to correlate the common carotid artery (CCA) bifurcation level with important anatomical landmarks used regularly in clinical practice. Forty-six necks from male embalmed human cadavers were evaluated. The CCA as the external (ECA) and internal (ICA) carotid arteries diameters were studied with the aid of an electronic digital caliper. No differences were found between sides in any level studied. The CCA bifurcation level was measured in relation to clinically relevant anatomical landmarks (superior level of the thyroid cartilage, mandible angle and ear lobe) and the bifurcation level according to the cervical vertebra level was also investigated. Our study shows that the superior border of the thyroid cartilage was the most stable anatomical landmark for predicting the CCA bifurcation level. It is important to mention that from all the landmarks studied, the cervical vertebra was the only one to show differences between sides, with the left side bifurcation level more variable than the right side

En cirugías de cabeza y cuello, las arterias carótidas comunes son importantes puntos de referencia, para defnir el plano de disección, durante cirugías radicales de cuello. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron agregar información sobre el diámetro de las arterias carótidas y correlacionar el nivel de bifurcación de la arteria carótida común (ACC) con importantes puntos de referencia usados regularmente en la práctica clínica. Para la obtención de los objetivos planteados, fueron evaluados 46 cadáveres formolizados de individuos de sexo masculino. Se obtuvieron los diámetros de las arterias carótidas común, externa (ACE) e interna (ACI), con el auxilio de un caliper digital. No hubo diferencias entre lados derecho e izquierdo, ni tampoco en los niveles estudiados. El nivel de bifurcación de la ACC fue medido en relación a puntos de reparos anatómicos relevantes en clínica (margen superior del cartílago tiroides, ángulo de la mandíbula y lóbulo del pabellón auricular), como también en relación al nivel vertebral. Nuestro estudio mostró que el margen superior del cartílago tiroides fue el punto de referencia más estable para inferir el nivel de bifurcación de la ACC. Es importante mencionar que, de todos los puntos de referencia estudiados, la vértebra cervical fue la única que mostró diferencias entre los lados, siendo más variable el nivel de bifurcación en el lado izquierdo

OBJETIVO: A artéria subclávia pode ser variável em sua origem, trajeto e/ou comprimento. Uma das variações anatômicas mais comuns é a origem da artéria subclávia direita como o último ramo do arco aórtico. Essa artéria é conhecida como artéria subclávia retroesofágica ou "artéria lusória". A artéria subclávia direita retroesofágica é comumente descrita como assintomática, sendo os achados, na maioria das vezes, acidentais. Entretanto, essa artéria pode ser um sítio de formação de placas ateromatosas, lesões inflamatórias ou até aneurismas. RELATO DE CASO: O presente estudo descreve um caso de artéria subclávia direita retroesofágica e discute os achados de acordo com sua importância clínica e implicações cirúrgicas. CONCLUSÃO: Variações anatômicas do arco aórtico e seus ramos são significantes para diagnósticos e procedimentos cirúrgicos do pescoço e do tórax. Caso uma artéria subclávia direita retroesofágica seja diagnosticada durante uma cirurgia do arco aórtico, um procedimento corretivo deve ser considerado. Pacientes em terapia intensiva devem ser investigados para a presença dessa variação anatômica antes de uma sondagem nasogástica de longa duração para se evitar complicações como fístulas e hemorragia.

PURPOSE: The subclavian arteries can vary on their origin, course or length. One of the most common anatomical variations is the right subclavian artery originating as the last branch of the aortic arch. This artery is known as a retroesophageal right subclavian artery or "lusory artery". The right retroesophageal subclavian artery usually is described as not producing symptoms, being most discoveries coincidental. Nevertheless, it may be the site of formation of atherosclerotic plaque, inflammatory lesions or aneurysm. CASE REPORT: The present study describes a case of right retroesophageal subclavian artery and discusses the findings according to their clinical and surgical implications. CONCLUSION: The anatomic and morphologic variations of the aortic arch and its branches are significant for diagnostic and surgical procedures in the thorax and neck. If a right retroesophageal subclavian artery is diagnosed during aortic arch repair, corrective surgery should be considered. Intensive care patients should be screened before long term placement of nasogastic tube, in order to avoid fistulization and fatal hemorrhage.