Carotid Endarterectomy: Experience at a Community Hospital

Abstract

One hundred and nineteen consecutive carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) performed on 86 patients have been reviewed. Thirty-three patients had bilateral CEAs. The indications were: (1) asymptomatic stenosis or ulceration (29%); (2) transient ischemic attack and amaurosis fugax (58%); and (3) reversible is chemic neurologic deficit and stroke (13%). Sixty percent of patients were shunted and 40% were not. There were 1 postoperative death in the first group and 2 strokes in each group. The overall stroke and death rates were 3.4% and 0.8% respectively. Eighty-eight percent and 83% of patients were alive and stroke free respectively during the forty-two-month follow-up period.

The authors conclude that (1) CEA can be safely performed at a community hospital and (2) routine shunting or no shunting does not affect the patient's outcome.