Carotid Endarterectomy

This paper offers a computer-assisted analysis of the author's experience with 234 carotid endarterectomy procedures in 188 patients. The patients' ages, sex, smoking habits, symptoms, carotid bruits, arteriographic findings and associated diseases are summarized. There were 28 operations in asymptomatic patients, 170 operations in patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA), 35-operations in patients with a completed stroke and one operation in a patient with a stroke in evolution. After surgery, transient neurologic deficits were noted in both the asymptomatic group (two instances) and the group with TIA (5 instances); permanent neurologic deficits followed 4 operations in the TIA group (2.4% incidence). Two operative deaths occurred in the TIA group (1.2% mortality), and 10 deaths occured after operation for a completed stroke (28.6% mortality). Nine of the deaths in the completed stroke group followed operations performed less than 2 weeks after a stroke. A 100% followup was obtained, and the average period of followup was 48 months. Of the patients surviving operation, all in the asymptomatic group were judged functionally normal, 94% of the TIA group were either functionally normal or improved, 76% with a completed stroke were improved, and the patient with a stroke in evolution was unchanged. There were 69 late deaths with heart disease accounting for 58% of the deaths and stroke another 17%.