title: Carotid endarterectomy. Review of 150 consecutive cases in two small community hospitals.
abstract: The authors have reviewed 150 consecutive carotid endarterectomies in 140 patients performed by three neurosurgeons. These were performed in two small community hospitals. There was an overall mortality rate of 1.3%; major or minor stroke was seen in 2.7% of patients and transient neurological dysfunction in 2.7%. Preoperative symptoms included major or minor stroke in 39.3% of patients and transient neurological dysfunction in 43.3%; 17.3% of patients were asymptomatic. The patients were continuously monitored intraoperatively with electroencephalography. There were two operative deaths, both related to myocardial infarction and both on the 2nd postoperative day. These statistics appear to compare favorably with those of series reported by major institutions. The average number of carotid endarterectomies per surgeon per year was 10. These were performed over a 7-year period (October, 1976, through November, 1983). Previous series have implied the need for higher frequency in performing the procedure to assure low morbidity and mortality rates. This series appears to offer evidence to the contrary. A key to these results has been that in 148 of the 150 operations, the primary surgeon has been assisted by one of the other two neurosurgeons. This affords the primary surgeon the benefit of excellent technical assistance, and also broadens the experience of the assisting surgeon, thereby allowing maximum experience from the small volume of cases.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D004691:Endarterectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged