Primary closure after a carotid endarterectomy

• Published in: Surgery today (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 187 - 191
• Main Authors: Kim, Dong-Ik, Moon, Ji-Young, Lee, Chul-Hyung, Kim, Do-Yool, Jang, Young-Sam, Kim, Gyeong-Moon, Chung, Chin-Sang, Lee, Kwang-Ho, Kim, Seon-Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 01.03.2007
• Subjects: Aged; Carotid Stenosis - etiology; Carotid Stenosis - surgery; Endarterectomy, Carotid - adverse effects; Endarterectomy, Carotid - methods; Female; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Stroke - etiology
• ISSN: 0941-1291; 1436-2813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00595-006-3385-4

The prevalences of restenosis and stroke after a carotid endarterectomy (CEA) tend to differ substantially according to the surgeon. Primary closure after a CEA was the routine procedure in our institute. The primary objectives of this study were to compare the results of patients of a primary arteriotomy closure in CEA between our own and others' results based on the findings in the literature. One hundred and sixty-six patients who underwent a primary closure were analyzed. Perioperative neurologic deficits were determined by the neurologist. Restenosis was defined as >50% stenosis on duplex scan. The range of follow-up was 7-112 months. Stroke including transient ischemic attack occurred within 30 postoperative days in 3 patients and after 30 postoperative days in 1 of the 166 patients. Five patients showed >50% asymptomatic restenosis. Two patients were treated with stent insertion and one underwent reoperation. One patient showed total occlusion during the follow-up period without any neurological deficits. One patient showed 50%-70% stenosis, and no intervention was done. The rates of recurrent stenosis and postoperative stroke were found to be sufficiently low following a primary closure to justify the continued use of this technique.