Statins Are Associated With Better Outcomes After Carotid Endarterectomy in Symptomatic Patients

Abstract

The authors conducted a study to determine if patients who were administered a statin at their hospital admission for carotid endarterectomy had a reduction in in-hospital adverse outcomes. A chart review of 3360 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy was used to collect data on patient characteristics, surgical indication, statin use, and perioperative complications (death, ischemic stroke or death), and cardiac outcomes. Pretreatment statin use by symptomatic patients was associated with reduced in-hospital mortality and ischemic stroke or death, but not in in-hospital cardiac outcomes. The same associations were not noted in asymptomatic patients taking statins. The authors conclude that the results suggest pretreatment with statins has a protective effect in symptomatic patients at the time of carotid endarterectomy.