Prophylactic Carotid Endarterectomy Research Articles

Prognosis of asymptomatic ulcerating carotid lesions.

To determine the proper approach to asymptomatic carotid bifurcation ulcerated plaque (UP), 79 patients with 91 asymptomatic UPs were identified angiographically, and a 96% follow-up was obtained with a mean duration of three years. The cumulative stroke rate by life-table analysis was 1% at seven years. Sixty-three UPs in 55 patients were classified as small, and of these patients, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) that were appropriate to the lesion developed in three and stroke in one (7% cumulative symptom rate). Twenty-four UPs in 21 patients were classified as large, and a TIA developed in one patient (9%), but no strokes were observed in this group. The cumulative mortality was 17% at three years and 52% at seven years. Life-table curves of several subgroups were compared and showed no significant differences in either stroke rate or mortality between any of these groups. On the basis of these data, and particularly the seven-year stroke rate of 1%, prophylactic carotid endarterectomy is not justified for asymptomatic carotid bifurcation ulcerations.

Carotid bruit: a follow-up report on its significance in patients undergoing an abdominal aortic operation.

The records of 516 patients who underwent an elective abdominal aortic operation for aneurysmal or occlusive disease are reviewed. Four patients operated on twice are considered an individual patient for each operation. Excluding 27 patients who had a prior carotid endarterectomy, there were 84 with a carotid bruit. Thirty-six patients without a carotid bruit had experienced an episode of cerebral ischemia. Four patients had a postoperative stroke. There was no correlation between the stroke and presence of a carotid bruit or history of cerebral ischemic symptoms. We do not challenge the validity of prophylactic carotid endarterectomy but question if the need for an abdominal aortic operation should be considered indication for carotid angiography and surgery in patients with a carotid bruit.

Asymptomatic carotid stenosis: Immediate and long-term results after prophylactic endarterectomy

1. 1. A review of the immediate and long-term results of prophylactic carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic lesions of 78 carotid arteries in 72 patients between 1961 and 1976 is presented. 2. 2. The inhospital operative mortality was zero. Two patients experienced postoperative transient neurologic deficit with complete recovery (2.6 per cent). There were no postoperative strokes. 3. 3. Late follow-up data demonstrated that in only one patient did a stroke subsequently develop appropriate to the operative side, and it occurred 4 years after operation. Life table analysis for neurologic events carried out for up to 15 years indicated a 96 per cent stroke-free status of the surviving patients. 4. 4. A 42 month survival rate of 83 per cent in patients treated by prophylactic carotid endarterectomy represented a statistically significant improvement over the 67 per cent survival of a comparable group of patients reported on in the literature. 5. 5. Prophylactic carotid endarterectomy in the experience of vascular surgeons who can offer a low operative morbidity and mortality appears to be reasonable therapy in preventing stroke and prolonging survival until a randomized controlled study comparing surgery with the natural history of untreated patients shows evidence to the contrary.

The asymptomatic bruit

A review of 144 carotid endarterectomies performed in 108 patients at the Oklahoma Health Science Center over the past six years showed an acceptable operative morbidity and mortality in a group of patients with an asymptomatic midcervical bruit who underwent prophylactic carotid endarterectomy prior to anticipated elective surgery. Long-term follow-up showed these patients to be free of neurologic symptoms or fatalities in 100 per cent of long-term survivors and suggests that carefully selected patients with an asymptomatic bruit may undergo carotid endarterectomy to prevent future neurologic complication.