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Patients' thromboembolic potential after carotid endarterectomy is related to the platelets' sensitivity to adenosine diphosphate.

UNLABELLED: Background and purpose Postoperative microemboli in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy are a significant risk factor for stroke. These emboli can be detected by intraoperative transcranial Doppler monitoring. They are not linked to technical error and are variable between patients. As it is known that platelets play a key role in arterial thrombosis, it was hypothesized that a patient's risk of postoperative carotid thrombosis was linked to the individual's platelet response to physiologic agonists. METHODS: Blood samples from 120 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were analyzed before surgery. Platelet aggregation was measured in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (0.5 to 4 micromol/L), collagen (10 to 50 mg/mL), and arachidonic acid (3 or 6 micromol/L), and fibrinogen binding to GPIIb-IIIa was measured by whole blood flow cytometry in response to ADP (0.1 to 10 micromol/L) and thrombin (0.02 to 0.16 micro/mL). Patients underwent intraoperative transcranial Doppler monitoring for 3 hours after surgery, and platelet functional data of those who had >25 emboli in this period (n = 22) were compared with the data of those with <25 emboli (n = 88). RESULTS: The platelet response to ADP was significantly higher in the patients with >25 emboli, as measured both by aggregometry (P =.0012) and by flow cytometry (P <.0001). Platelet aggregation with collagen was also significantly higher in this group (P =.0018), but the response to thrombin was not statistically different in the two groups. In addition, there was no difference in the response to arachidonic acid between the groups. CONCLUSION: The platelet response to ADP may be linked to clinical outcome, and thus, specific ADP receptor inhibitors may be appropriate for this group of patients.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Disease progression in contralateral carotid artery is common after endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Although the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) and the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study (ACAS) have helped to define the role of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for both symptomatic and asymptomatic lesions, the role of surveillance of the contralateral carotid artery remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the progression of contralateral carotid artery disease with serial duplex ultrasound scans after CEA compared with the recurrent stenosis rate for the carotid artery ipsilateral to the CEA. METHODS: From January 1990 to December 2000, 473 CEA procedures were performed at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. From this group we identified 279 patients who had undergone first-time CEA, as well as preoperative duplex scanning and postoperative duplex scanning at least once, in the vascular laboratory. At each visit stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) was categorized as none (0%-14%), mild (15%-49%), moderate (50%-79%), severe (80%-99%), or occluded. Analysis of probability of freedom from progression was determined. Progression was defined as an increase in ICA stenosis 50% or greater or increase to a higher category of stenosis if baseline was 50% or greater. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 65.7 years (range, 33-100 years). The 1024 carotid duplex ultrasound scanning examinations performed (mean, 3.7; range, 2-13) included the last study done before the index CEA and all studies done after the CEA. Mean follow-up was 27 months (range, 1-137 months). Forty-six patients were found to have contralateral carotid occlusion at initial duplex scanning, and were therefore excluded from the contralateral progression analysis. Contralateral progression was more frequent than ipsilateral recurrent stenosis at long-term follow-up (P <.01). Annual rates of "any progression" and "progression to severe stenosis or occlusion" were 8.3% and 4.4%, respectively, for contralateral arteries, and 4.3% and 2.4%, respectively for ipsilateral arteries. As a result of surveillance, 43 contralateral CEAs (19% of initial cohort) were performed. Carotid stenosis regressed in 25 arteries (10.7%). Baseline clinical and demographic factors did not predict disease progression. Baseline contralateral stenosis did not predict time to "any progression," but was a strong predictor of "progression to severe stenosis or occlusion" (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: After CEA, we identified an 8.3% annual rate of progression of contralateral carotid artery stenosis and a 4.4% annual rate of progression to severe stenosis or occlusion. Baseline contralateral stenosis was significantly predictive of progression to severe stenosis or occlusion. Clinical and demographic factors were not helpful in predicting which patients would have disease progression. These data may help in assessing the cost effectiveness of duplex scanning surveillance after CEA.

Adult↗

Intraoperative carotid artery duplex scanning in a modern series of 650 consecutive primary endarterectomy procedures.

PURPOSE: Thromboembolic complications after carotid endarterectomy are frequently associated with technical defects. We analyzed the effect of intraoperative duplex scanning in detection of significant but clinically unsuspected technical defects and residual common carotid artery (CCA) disease as a potential source of postoperative transitory ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke. METHODS: From April 2000 to April 2003, 650 consecutive primary carotid endarterectomy procedures were performed in 590 patients at a single institution by two vascular surgeons. Patients included 335 men (57%) and 255 women (43%). Indications for surgery were asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (>or=70%) in 464 patients (71%). All procedures were performed with the patient under general anesthesia, with synthetic patch angioplasty in 644 (99.1%). Major technical defects at intraoperative duplex scanning (>30% luminal internal carotid artery stenosis, free-floating clot, dissection, arterial disruption with pseudoaneurysm) were repaired. CCA residual disease was reported as wall thickness (0.7-4.8 mm; mean, 1.7 +/- 0.7) and percent stenosis (16%-67%; mean, 32% +/- 8%) in all cases. Postoperative 30-day TIA, stroke, and death rates were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no clinically detectable postoperative thromboembolic events in this series. All 15 major defects (2.3%) identified with duplex scanning were successfully revised. These included 7 intimal flaps, 4 free-floating clots, 2 ICA stenoses, 1 ICA pseudoaneurysm, and 1 retrograde CCA dissection. Diameter reduction ranged from 40% to 90% (mean, 67 +/- 16%), and peak systolic velocity ranged from 69 to 497 cm/s (mean, 250 +/- 121 cm/s). Thirty-one patients (5%) with the highest residual wall thickness (>3mm) in the CCA and 19 (3%) with the highest CCA residual diameter reduction (>50%) did not have postoperative stroke or TIA. Overall postoperative stroke and mortality rates were 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively; combined stroke and mortality rate was 0.8%. One stroke was caused by hyperperfusion, and the other occurred as an extension of a previous cerebral infarct. No patients had TIAs. Two deaths were caused by myocardial infarction, and one death by respiratory insufficiency. CONCLUSION: We believe intraoperative duplex scanning had a major role in these improved results, because it enabled detection of clinically unsuspected significant lesions. Residual disease in the CCA does not seem to be a harbinger of stroke or TIA.

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Carotid Revascularization Using Endarterectomy or Stenting Systems (CaRESS) phase I clinical trial: 1-year results.

OBJECTIVE: Current clinical trials evaluating carotid stenting have focused on high-risk patients and may not reflect the broad population of patients with carotid stenosis who undergo treatment to prevent stroke. The Carotid Revascularization Using Endarterectomy or Stenting Systems (CaRESS) phase I study is a multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized trial designed to address the question of whether carotid stenting (CAS) with cerebral protection is comparable to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic (with >50% stenosis) or asymptomatic (with >75% stenosis) carotid stenosis were entered into the study in a 2:1 ratio of carotid stent and GuardWire Plus distal protection device. This unique trial model was developed through collaboration with the International Society of Endovascular Specialists, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Institutes of Health, and industry representatives. The primary end points included death and stroke at 30 days and a composite 1-year end point of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction (MI) from 0 to 30 days and death or stroke from 31 days to 1 year. The secondary end points included residual stenosis, restenosis, repeat angiography, and carotid revascularization at 30 days and 1 year and quality-of-life changes at 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 397 patients (254 CEA and 143 CAS) were enrolled in the study: 32% were symptomatic and 68% were asymptomatic. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics, symptoms, or surgical risk profiles between groups at baseline. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant differences in combined death/stroke rates at 30 days (3.6% CEA vs 2.1% CAS) or at 1 year (13.6% CEA vs 10.0% CAS). Similarly, there was no significant difference in the combined end point of death, stroke, or MI at 30 days (4.4% CEA vs 2.1% CAS) or at 1 year (14.3% CEA vs 10.9% CAS). There were no significant differences between CEA and CAS in the secondary end points of residual stenosis (0% CEA vs 0.9% CAS), restenosis (3.6% CEA vs 6.3% CAS), repeat angiography (2.1% CEA vs 3.6% CAS), carotid revascularization (1.0% CEA vs 1.8% CAS), or change in quality of life (-1.56 points CEA vs -4.22 points CAS). CONCLUSIONS: The CaRESS phase I study suggests that the 30-day and 1-year risk of death, stroke, or MI with CAS is equivalent to that with CEA in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis.

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A preliminary clinical scale to predict the risk of in-hospital death after carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains the gold standard for the treatment of carotid disease, with mortality rates generally at 0.4% to 1.7%. Controversy remains with regards to its role in the treatment of the high-risk surgical population. We developed a new clinical scale incorporating weighted risk factors into a single numerical score that correlates with the risk of in-hospital death after CEA. We propose that this tool may serve to prospectively identify the high-risk patient. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 10 years (1994 to 2003) of the Maryland hospital discharge database. Included in the analysis were patients with (1) International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure code 38.12 (endarterectomy of the vessels of the head and neck other than intracranial vessels) in the primary coding position but not in any secondary position, or (2) Diagnosis Code 433.00 to 433.91 (occlusion/stenosis, precerebral artery), or (3) the Diagnosis-Related Group 5 (extracranial vascular procedure). ICD codes representing preoperative conditions of the patients were identified and evaluated with stepwise regression modeling techniques for association with in-hospital deaths. Different regression models were evaluated and compared by discriminative power as measured by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and goodness-of-fit to data as measured by r(2) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic. A numeric index correlating with the risk of in-hospital death was constructed by rounding the correlation coefficients for the statistically significant variables from the logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified 23,237 cases. The mean age of patients was 70.6 years, with 54.7% male patients. There were 125 in-hospital deaths (0.54%). Patient age and four patient medical conditions emerged with significant associations with in-hospital deaths after CEA, and their relationships can be summarized in a single diagnostic scale: 1 point for age > or =75, 2 points for atherosclerosis (ICD code 440), 3 points for cardiomyopathy (ICD code 425), 4 points for iron-deficiency anemia (ICD code 280), and 5 points for cerebral degeneration (ICD code 331). This scale has moderate discriminative power (ROC = 0.67). On average, each point increase on this scale is associated with a 1.58-times increase in mortality risk, with score of 6 on the scale carrying a mortality risk >5%. CONCLUSIONS: This new 5-item scale, based on patient age and past medical history, correlates moderately with the rate of in-hospital death after CEA. This clinical index may serve to identify high-risk patients. Future improvements to this diagnostic scale should focus on the diagnostic values of additional laboratory and demographic data.

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Defining the high-risk patient for carotid endarterectomy: an analysis of the prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the gold standard for the treatment of carotid stenosis, but carotid angioplasty and stenting has been advocated in high-risk patients. The definition of such a population has been elusive, particularly because the data are largely retrospective. Our study examined results for CEA in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (both Veterans Affairs and private sector). METHODS: National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data were gathered prospectively for all patients undergoing primary isolated CEA during the interval 2000 to 2003 at 123 Veterans Affairs and 14 private sector academic medical centers. Study end points included the 30-day occurrence of any stroke, death, or cardiac event. A variety of clinical, demographic, and operative variables were assessed with multivariate models to identify risk factors associated with the composite (stroke, death, or cardiac event) end point. Adjudication of end points was by trained nurse reviewers (previously validated). RESULTS: A total of 13,622 CEAs were performed during the study period; 95% were on male patients, and 91% of cases were conducted within the Veterans Affairs sector. The average age was 68.6 +/- 0.1 years, and 42.1% of the population had no prior neurologic event. The composite stroke, death, or cardiac event rate was 4.0%; the stroke/death rate was 3.4%. Multivariate correlates of the composite outcome were (odds ratio, P value) as follows: deciles of age (1.13, .018), insulin-requiring diabetes (1.73, <.001), oral agent-controlled diabetes (1.39, .003), decade of pack-years smoking (1.04, >.001), history of transient ischemic attack (1.41, >.001), history of stroke (1.51, >.001), creatinine >1.5 mg/dL (1.48, >.001), hypoalbuminemia (1.49, >.001), and fourth quartile of operative time (1.44, >.001). Cardiopulmonary comorbid features did not affect the composite outcome in this model. Regional anesthesia was used in 2437 (18%) cases, with a resultant relative risk reduction for stroke (17%), death (24%), cardiac event (33%), and the composite outcome (31%; odds ratio, 0.69; P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid endarterectomy results across a spectrum of Veterans Affairs and private sector hospitals compare favorably to contemporary studies. These data will assist in selecting patients who are at an increased risk for adverse outcomes. Use of regional anesthetic significantly reduced perioperative complications in a risk-adjusted model, thus suggesting that it is the anesthetic of choice when CEA is performed in high-risk patients.

Adult↗

Increased incidence of cerebral clamping ischemia during early contralateral carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to assess the influence of previous contralateral carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and of the timing of the procedures on cerebral clamping ischemia during the second operation in patients undergoing staged bilateral CEA. METHODS: We reviewed the 251 patients who presented with bilateral carotid stenosis of > or =70% at the time of the first admission and underwent staged bilateral CEA between January 2001 and December 2004. Surgery was performed under locoregional anesthesia. Cerebral perfusion was monitored with mental status and contralateral motor function evaluation in awake patients. Selective carotid shunting was performed for patients who manifested neurologic deficits. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for the variables of interest. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (8.8%) required carotid shunting during the first procedure and 28 (11.1%) during the second one. Nine of the latter also had shunts during the first CEA, whereas 19 tolerated cross-clamping during the first operation. Among the patients who underwent contralateral CEA < or =30 days, 23 of 146 required carotid shunting; between 31 and 60 days, 4 of 73; and after 61 days, 1 of 32 (P = .023; univariate analysis). The chi2 for trend was statistically significant (P = .009). Patients operated on the second side < or =30 days had a nearly fourfold risk of shunting during the second procedure compared with patients operated on > or =31 days. The highest risk was observed in patients with a shunt during the first operation who underwent the second CEA < or =30 days. Multivariate analysis also identified the time intervals between CEAs and the need of shunting during the first procedure as independent risk factors (P = .042 and P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These data show an increased incidence of cerebral clamping ischemia during contralateral endarterectomy performed < or =30 days; whereas after longer intervals between CEAs, the need for shunting is significantly reduced.

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Factors associated with a provider's recommendation of carotid endarterectomy: implications for understanding disparities in the use of invasive procedures.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the relative importance of clinical and nonclinical factors in a provider's decision to recommend carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for a patient, with emphasis on the role of the patient's race in the provider's assessment of the risks and benefits of the procedure. METHODS: The study was a secondary analysis of data on the use of CEA conducted in a patient sample of 355 white and black patients who were referred for evaluation for CEA and were adjudicated preoperatively as appropriate candidates for the procedure by objective criteria. The patients were from five VA medical centers nationally. The primary outcome was the provider's recommendation that the patient receive CEA. Patient factors included age, race, the degree of carotid artery stenosis, clinical status, trust in the provider, and aversion to surgery. Provider factors were assessment of the patient's risks and benefits from CEA, including perceived efficacy of the surgery, perceived risk of stroke < or =1 year without the surgery, and perceived risk of stroke < or =30 days from the surgery. RESULTS: The primary factor associated with a provider's decision to recommend CEA was his or her assessment of the patient's risk of stroke without the surgery. The patient's race was not associated with the provider's assessments of the patient's risks or benefits from CEA. CONCLUSION: A major determinant of a provider's recommendation for a patient to receive CEA endarterectomy is the assessment of the patient's likely future risk of stroke, regardless of the patient's race.

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Carotid artery stenosis and endarterectomy.

This article reviews the disease process of carotid artery stenosis, its symptomatology, and prognosis for progression to ischemic stroke. Indications for both medical and surgical treatment are reviewed as is criteria for surgical categorization as specified by the American Heart Association guidelines for carotid endarterectomy. Although diagnostic testing, medical treatment and alternative therapy options of angioplasty, stenting and thrombolysis are presented, a thorough overview of the surgical procedure of carotid endarterectomy is the major focus of discussion, as it remains the "gold standard" of treatment for severe carotid artery stenosis.

Carotid Stenosis↗

Carotid endarterectomy remains the gold standard.

BACKGROUND: To compare the safety and efficacy of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) as performed in a community medical center with the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study (ACAS) and North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) standards and with representative published results regarding carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). METHODS: Between 1 January 1994 and 31 July 2000, 267 CEA procedures were performed on 236 patients at Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC). Prospectively acquired patient demographics, operative indications, and surgical outcomes were reviewed using clinical records, carotid duplex evaluations, and follow-up examinations. The resultant data were compared with ACAS, NASCET, and published results of CAS. RESULTS: The perioperative stroke rate was 2.2% (6 of 267) overall, 0.7% (1 of 139) among asymptomatic patients, and 3.9% (5 of 128) among symptomatic patients. There were no perioperative deaths from any cause in the entire series. The respective ACAS and NASCET early stroke-death rates were 2.3% (19 of 825) and 5.8% (19 of 328). The largest published series of CAS reported stroke-death rates of 5.7% (299 of 5,210) overall, and 3.4% (46 of 1,361) and 5.8% (93 of 1,614) for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CEA remains the standard of care. It is a safe, effective, and durable procedure that can be performed in a facility such as MAMC with outcomes that compare favorably with ACAS and NASCET. Results of CEA at MAMC are superior to similar data regarding CAS. Widespread use of CAS should be deferred pending completion of on-going prospective trials versus CEA.

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Comparison of nonneurological events in high-risk patients treated by carotid angioplasty versus endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare results of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in high cardiac risk patients. METHODS: Patients ineligible for carotid revascularization by North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial/Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study criteria were treated with CAS (n = 11) or CEA (n = 10). RESULTS: Significant numbers had cardiac (CAS 72%, CEA 60%; P = 0.66) and hypertensive (CAS 82%, CEA 80%; P = 0.64) risk factors. Adverse hemodynamic events were more frequent in the CAS group (CAS 73%, CEA 20%; P = 0.03). Major complications were noted in 1 patient in each group (CAS, myocardial infarction; CEA, death). Postoperative stay was similar (CAS 2.1 +/- 1.4, CEA 1.8 +/- 1.1 days; P = 0.60). However, 4 in the CAS group were readmitted within 1 month (congestive heart failure 2, myocardial infarction 1, rest pain 1), compared with no new events in the CEA group (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the use of CAS in patients with cardiac risk factors may not be justifiable.

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Carotid endarterectomy with an occluded contralateral carotid artery.

Five hundred twenty-six patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy were separated by reviewing those 81 (15%) patients with an occluded contralateral carotid artery and those 445 (85%) with nonocclusion. The population characteristics and surgical indications were similar between the occluded and nonoccluded groups. Ipsilateral plus contralateral perioperative stroke occurred during 11 of 445 operations (2.5%) in which the contralateral carotid was patent, and during which no patient was hemorrhagic. Those patients with contralateral artery occlusion had ipsilateral plus contralateral stroke in 4 of 81 cases of (4.9%) (NS). Intracerebral hemorrhage was responsible for two of four strokes after carotid endarterectomy with contralateral occlusion (p = 0.001). Restenosis to greater than 50% by duplex scanning was more rapid in the occluded group with primary closure (no patch) (p = 0.025) and for men (p = 0.025). Although perioperative safety is comparable, patients with contralateral carotid occlusion may have a greater risk of intracranial hemorrhage and a more rapid rate of restenosis in some subgroups.

Aged↗

Changes in internal carotid blood flow after carotid endarterectomy correlate with preoperative stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between preoperative stenosis and the effect of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) upon internal carotid blood flow (ICF) is not well understood. With the intention of better characterizing this, we compared intraoperative measurements of internal carotid blood with the maximum single diameter stenosis found in preoperative angiograms. METHODS: Fifty-two patients undergoing 64 carotid endarterectomies (12 bilateral) had transit-time ultrasound perivascular probes used to measure ICF before and after CEA, and the percent change in ICF (% delta ICF) achieved was calculated. Maximum single-diameter stenosis was determined by comparing the least diameter in the flow path from the common carotid to the normal-appearing internal carotid just distal to bifurcation disease. RESULTS: The entire group had a mean of 53 +/- 21% stenosis found on preoperative angiograms, and % delta ICF averaged 64 +/- 92%. When divided into subgroups based on degree of stenosis, patients with 0% to 40% stenosis (n = 17) had % delta ICF of 32 +/- 46%, patients with 41% to 70% stenosis (n = 30) had % delta ICF of 72 +/- 105%, and patients with more than 70% stenosis had % delta ICF of 168 +/- 160%. The differences in % delta IC were significant for the > 70% group compared with the other groups (analysis of variance, P < 0.005), and marginally significant (P = 0.056) between the 0% to 40% and the 41% to 70% groups. The scatter plot of % delta ICF versus stenosis showed a significant second order direct correlation (r = 0.428, P < 0.001) and disproportionate increases in ICF above 60% stenosis. CONCLUSION: A curvilinear relationship between stenosis and immediate increase in ICF after CEA was demonstrated in agreement with theory, and in those patients with more than approximately 60% single-diameter stenosis, large disproportionate increases in blood flow were more frequently observed.

Analysis of Variance↗

The fate of residual defects following carotid endarterectomy detected by early postoperative duplex ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of color-flow duplex ultrasound (CFD) soon after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to determine the incidence of residual abnormalities and their effect on subsequent outcome and management. METHODS: We reviewed 318 consecutive CEAs performed over a 48 month-period. Of these, 206 were followed up with CFD, 195 prior to discharge and 11 at first follow-up (within 9 weeks). Patients (43) followed up with only oculoplethysmography (OPG) or those with no OPG or CFD (69) were excluded from the study. All CEAs were performed under general anesthesia with routine shunting and patch angioplasty. RESULTS: Twelve of the 206 studies (5.8%) were abnormal. Two patients with an abnormal CFD sustained perioperative stroke, both of whom had distal intimal lesions of > 60% diameter stenosis by velocity criteria. Four patients had > 60% stenosis and were reoperated upon to correct technical errors. The remaining 6 patients are asymptomatic. Four had residual lesions of < 60% stenosis, three of which have returned to normal on subsequent CFD. Two residual lesions had > 60% stenosis; one returned to normal by CFD and the other remains abnormal at 10 months. In the group of 192 normal postoperative CFD studies, there were no strokes, deaths, or redo procedures (0%, 95% confidence interval 0% to 1.54%) compared with a combined 50% rate (6 of 12) of either stroke (2 of 12) or redo procedure (4 of 12) when the postoperative CFD was abnormal (95% confidence interval 22.3% to 77.7%, P < 0.0001). During the study period the CEA stroke rate was 0.9% (3 of 318), with a combined stroke-mortality rate of 1.3% (4 of 318). CONCLUSIONS: Early postoperative CFD identified residual abnormalities in 5.8% of carotid endarterectomies despite a low overall stroke mortality rate. One half of these abnormalities resulted in stroke or required operative correction. Colorflow duplex ultrasound is useful in identifying residual abnormalities following CEA and should be considered for intraoperative use.

Carotid Stenosis↗

Carotid endarterectomy results from a state vascular society. Kentucky Vascular Surgery Society Study Group.

PURPOSE: This study analyzes the results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed statewide by members of the Kentucky Vascular Surgery Society (KVSS). METHODS: Between September 1, 1991 and September 1, 1993, 22 vascular surgeons in the KVSS submitted 1490 CEAs to the vascular registry. Follow-up data were obtained on 986 (66%) CEAs performed on 889 patients (average age, 68 years). RESULTS: Carotid endarterectomy was performed on 505 men and 384 women. Indications for operation were asymptomatic carotid stenosis (43%), transient ischemic attack (TIA; 27%), amaurosis fugax (13%), stroke (11%) and nonhemispheric symptoms (6%). A total of 384 cases had primary closure, and 602 had patch reconstruction following CEA. The combined stroke-mortality rate was 2.3% (10 strokes and 13 deaths). The combined stroke-mortality rate of CEA was 2.1% for patients treated by academic surgeons and 2.3% for those treated by community surgeons. Deaths were due to stroke (4), sepsis (5), cardiac complications (2), intracerebral hemorrhage (1) and cancer (1). Five patients had postoperative TIAs. After CEA, duplex scan surveillance was performed in 629 (64%) patients, with 23 (3.6%) residual/recurrent stenosis (10, 50%-75%; 13, 75%-99%) detected; 5 undergoing reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the efficacy and safety of CEA performed by a large number of vascular surgeons in both community and academic practice.

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Cost management strategies for carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: We developed a model for capitation and global pricing for carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: A care algorithm for diagnosis, perioperative management, and postoperative care using cost data was developed. Perioperative care charges were extrapolated from a 1-year experience and applied to models to determine pricing for a 1-year global fee and a 5-year capitated contract. RESULTS: Global pricing was estimated at $12,071 per patient while a capitated price for 5-year care was $17,175. Based on the age mix of the population, a per member, per month cost could be calculated assuming a frequency of 414 procedures per 100,000 patients over age 65 and 31 procedures per 100,000 patients under 65. Sources of costs were extensive preoperative diagnostic testing, particularly angiography, brain imaging, and cardiac evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Global pricing and capitation are both feasible for carotid endarterectomy. Each approach has unique risks and benefits.

Age Factors↗

Cost-effective carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy is the most common vascular procedure performed, with an annual cost of $1.2 billion. Efforts to control the cost associated with this procedure include limiting preoperative studies, avoiding admissions to the intensive care unit, and encouraging early postoperative discharge. METHODS: To determine our surgical results and the cost associated with this procedure, we reviewed our experience at a single hospital and compared our cost data with those of other local facilities. RESULTS: During an 18-month period we performed 65 carotid endarterectomies at one community hospital. The average per-patient hospital cost was $8,060, which was $3,510 less than the average cost at the other facilities in our city. The median length of postoperative stay in our hospital was 1 day. One patient died and there was 1 postoperative stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Limited utilization of the intensive care unit and short postoperative stays reduced the overall hospital costs. Our 1.5% mortality and stroke rates demonstrate that these cost-saving measures can be implemented without adversely affecting patient outcome.

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Coronary endarterectomy and stent removal after iatrogenic perforation.

Coronary perforation is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. We report a case of type 3 coronary artery perforation after stenting of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Pericardiocentesis was required to treat cardiac tamponade and prolonged balloon inflation did not stop the bleeding. Urgent surgical intervention with coronary endarterectomy, removal of the stent, and bypass grafting using the left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery was successful. Complete removal of stent with endarterectomy is a feasible option for perforation as a complication of coronary stenting.

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