title: Surgical treatment of extracranial cerebrovascular disease: regional experience.
abstract: This paper reports a retrospective review of 40 patients who underwent 48 surgical procedures to treat extracranial cerebrovascular disease. The surgery was performed at the Port Kembla District Hospital (a 145-bed regional institution) between 4 October 1984 and 9 September 1987. Carotid endarterectomy was the most common operation (n = 44, 91.6%). The survey reports the patterns of presenting symptoms, risk factors, investigations, surgical detail and early and late complications, and compares these with other published series. Operative and peri-operative morbidity and mortality were within contemporary international standards: mortality 0% (reference range: 0-1%); stroke 2.1% (1-3%); transient ischaemic attack 6.3% (0-8%). These results support the contention of other authors that international standards for extracranial cerebrovascular surgery are achievable in regional institutions.
authors.affiliation: Port Kembla District Hospital, Illawarra Area Health Service, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glasson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004691:Endarterectomy / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors