The lucid interval in stroke following carotid endarterectomy.
In 789 carotid endarterectomies, there were 39 neurologic deficits in 543 cases (7.1%) performed with a shunt and nine neurologic deficits in 246 cases (3.7%) performed without a shunt in a community where surgeons were divided and inflexible with regard to the use of shunts. In the cases performed without a shunt, seven of the nine neurologic deficits were preceded by a lucid interval, suggesting that the use of a shunt might have benefitted no more than two cases in this group. The mortality related to deficits following a lucid interval was 44 per cent, whereas the mortality of immediate deficit was 13 per cent. This supports a policy of immediate operation for stroke following a lucid interval.
D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004691:Endarterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors