title: Long-term prognosis after carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: This study analyzed 76 consecutive patients with carotid transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and carotid lesions appropriate to symptoms who underwent endarterectomy during the period 1975-1981. The mean age of the patients was 51.9 +/- 8 years at the time of surgery. Hypertension was present in 32.9%, diabetes mellitus in 13%, ischemic cardiopathy in 8.2% and peripheral vascular disease in 6.6%. Operative mortality was 1.3% and harder morbidity 4%. The average follow-up was 2.6 years (range 1-7 years). The observed 5-year survival rate was 85.2% compared to the expected rate of 92.4% in a normal population. During the follow-up 5 patients had a stroke: the cumulative stroke rate was 4.6% at 1 year and 7.9% at 3 years. 18 patients had further TIAs (13 carotid TIAs and 5 vertebro-basilar TIAs). 6 patients suffered myocardial infarction. The prognosis of TIA patients treated with endarterectomy is difficult to evaluate because the natural history of TIAs is still undefined.
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors