Restenosis Following Carotid Endarterectomy

Restenosis following carotid endarterectomy is not a rare condition. Among 122 endarterectomies we experienced, five restenoses (4.1%) were encountered and treated by the second surgery. The present report clarifies the clinical profiles and pathological findings of restenosis following carotid endarterectomy. Mean age of restenosis group (59 years old) was not significantly different from the group without restenosis (62 years old). Average duration between the first endarterectomy and the second surgery was 17 months (8-30 months). Initial symptoms were transient ischemic attack in three sides, minor stroke in one side, and asymptomatic in one. Degree of stenosis was tight (> or = 90%) in two and moderate (70-89%) in three. It is interesting to note that no ulcer was noted in the first endarterectomy specimen. At surgery for restenosis, two cases had symptoms and another two cases were asymptomatic, though all had neck bruits. Four of five lesions were treated by short venous graft from common carotid artery to distal internal carotid artery and another lesion was treated by second endarterectomy and Dacron patch graft. Pathology was studied in four and all showed myointimal hyperplasia. Three of four restenosis tissues showed mutant form p53 by immunohistochemistry. The present study indicates that restenosis following carotid endarterectomy is not a rare status. Short venous bypass across the stenotic portion is the treatment of choice. Monoclonal growth of smooth muscle with mutant form p53 might be related to the restenosis.