Urgent Carotid Artery Repair: Retrospective Study of 21 Cases

• Published in: Annals of vascular surgery Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 401 - 406
• Main Authors: Gay, Jean-Luc, Curtil, Alain, Buffiere, Sabine, Favre, Jean-Pierre, Barral, Xavier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.07.2002; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain Ischemia - complications; Brain Ischemia - surgery; Carotid Arteries - surgery; Carotid Artery Diseases - complications; Carotid Artery Diseases - surgery; Endarterectomy, Carotid - methods; Endarterectomy, Carotid - mortality; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0890-5096; 1615-5947
• DOI: 10.1007/s10016-001-0227-0

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the outcome of urgent surgical repair in patients with symptomatic carotid artery lesions. The study population included 21 patients who underwent carotid artery repair less than 24 hr after diagnostic work-up. Indications included crescendo transient ischemic attacks in 5 cases, fluctuating neurological deficits in 11, and stroke in evolution in 5. Immediate mortality was 9.5%. Mean follow-up was 55 months. Actuarial survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 90% and 62%, respectively. Actuarial neurological deficitfree rates at 1 and 5 years were 95% and 76%, respectively. The results of this study document the effectiveness of urgent carotid artery repair for treatment of acute cerebral ischemia. Although higher than elective surgery, morbidity and mortality are acceptable, given the severity of illness in this patient population.