Asymptomatic contralateral carotid artery stenosis: a five-year follow-up study following carotid endarterectomy.
Exactly 5 years after carotid endarterectomy for transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), the neurologic status of each of 67 patients whose angiograms demonstrated a contralateral carotid artery, two of which were fatal. One of these patients suffered antecedent TIAs. Two of the 50 patients (4%) without contralateral carotid stenosis experienced symptoms referable to the contralateral carotid; one of the 50 (2%) suffered a CVA without antecedent TIAs; and one of the 50 (2%) experienced a single TIA. Patients with a demonstrable contralateral carotid stenosis were at greater risk of developing contralateral symptoms than those without a stenosis [14 of the 67 versus two of the 50 (P < 0.01)]. There was no correlation between the incidence of new symptoms and the degree of contralateral stenosis. The 3% (two of the 67) incidence of stroke without antecedent TIAs on follow-up in those patients with a contralateral carotid stenosis suggests the following guideline: patients with contralateral carotid stenosis suggests the following guideline: patients with contralateral carotid artery stenosis can be advised to undergo staged carotid endarterectomies if the surgeon's stroke and morbidity rate is less than 3%.
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies