Background Carotid atherosclerotic plaques remain silent until their rupture, which may lead to detrimental ischemic events such as strokes. This is due, in part, to intraplaque hemorrhages (IPH) and the resulting inflammatory processes, which may promote carotid plaque vulnerability. Currently, the benefits of carotid endarterectomy remain unclear for asymptomatic patients. Interestingly, the completion of physical activity (PA) may have beneficial effects; however, the paucity of current data warrants robust longitudinal interventions. We therefore aim to study the effects of a 6-month longitudinal personalized home-based PA program on IPH, biological, and inflammatory markers in asymptomatic stroke patients. Methods Eighty patients (≥ 18 years old) will be recruited for the Physical Activity and Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Hemorrhage (PACAPh) clinical trial from the Hospices Civils de Lyon. Patients will be eligible if they present with carotid stenosis ≥ 50% and are asymptomatic from any ischemic events for at least 6 months. Recruited patients will be randomized into either a PA or a control group, and assessed at baseline and after 6 months. At both time points, all patients will be assessed using magnetic resonance imaging to assess IPH, blood sampling to measure inflammatory markers and monocytic phenotyping, PA and sedentary behavior questionnaires, 6-min walking test, and maximal isometric quadricep contraction test. The randomized PA intervention will consist of reaching a daily walking step goal individually tailored to each patient. Steps will be collected using a wirelessly connected wristband. The number of steps completed by individuals in the PA group will be re-evaluated bimonthly to encourage walking habits. Discussion The PACAPh study is the first of its kind representing a feasible, easily accessible therapeutic strategy for asymptomatic stroke patients. We hypothesize that the personalized home-based PA program will reduce IPH and modulate inflammatory and biological parameters in patients presenting with carotid plaques. If the results of the PACAPh study prove to be beneficial on such health parameters, the implementation of such kind of intervention in the daily treatment of these patients would be an advantageous and cost-effective practice to adopt globally. Trial registration This study has been approved by the National Ethics Committee (IDRCB:2019-A01543-54/SI:19.06.21.40640). ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04053166

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess whether high-risk American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)-Physical Status was an independent risk factor for the development of surgical site infection (SSI) after infra-inguinal lower extremity bypass (LEB). Summary of Background Data: The ASA-Physical Status Classification System assesses the overall physical status preoperatively. ASA-Physical Status is associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, limited data are available on how ASA-Physical Status Class affects the development of SSI after infra-inguinal LEB. Methods: Patients who had undergone infra-inguinal LEB from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018, for obliterative arteriopathy or popliteal aneurysm at our university hospital were included. SSI risk factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression. The length of hospital stay, major limb events (MALE), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and all-cause mortality were compared for patients with SSI versus those without SSI 3 months and 1- year of follow-up after the index surgery. Results: Among the 267 patients included, 30 (11.2%) developed SSI during the 3-month period and 32 (12%) at 1 year. ASA-Physical Status ≥3 [odds ratio (OR): 3.7, 95% confidence interval CI) 1.5–11.1], emergency surgery (OR: 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.0), general anesthesia (OR: 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–6.1), and procedure performed by a junior surgeon (OR: 2.7, 95% CI 1.3–6.0) were independently associated with SSI. At 3 months and 1 year, SSI was significantly associated with MALE (including surgical wound debridement, subsequent thrombectomy, major amputation), length of hospital stay, and all-cause mortality. Conclusion: The ASA-Physical Status should be considered in medical management when an infra-inguinal LEB is considered in frail patients, to prevent surgical complications.