Long-term follow-up for recurrent stenosis: a prospective randomized study of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch angioplasty versus primary closure after carotid endarterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of primary closure (PC) versus expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch graft angioplasty (PGA) on the incidence of recurrent stenosis (> 50% lumen diameter narrowing) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), 87 patients undergoing 100 consecutive CEA were prospectively randomized into two groups.


METHODS
Forty-four patients underwent 51 PC, and 43 patients underwent 49 PGA. All patients were evaluated after operation by duplex scanning at 1.5, 12, 24, and 36 months. There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics or operative indications for CEA between the two patient groups. Complete follow-up was achieved in 86% (75/87) of the patients during the 36-month surveillance period.


RESULTS
The perioperative permanent neurologic morbidity in the PC and PGA groups was noted to be 4% and 2%, respectively (PC = 2/51 vs PGA = 1/49, p = 0.58). Three additional reversible cerebral ischemic events occurred in the postoperative period (PC = 2/51 vs PGA = 1/49, p = 0.58). Other morbidity included immediate postoperative hemorrhage requiring reexploration (1/51) in the PC group and an infected expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch requiring removal and replacement with autogenous vein (1/49). Long-term follow-up detected a single patient with significant bilateral restenoses of his primarily closed carotid arteries. None of the patients in the PGA group had restenoses (PC = 2/51 vs 0/49, p = 0.50). In addition, no postoperative dilation of the common or internal carotid arteries or perioperative death was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients undergoing CEA, these data demonstrate no significant difference in the perioperative morbidity or mortality between PC and PGA. Use of the patch did not engender patients to patch rupture or aneurysmal degeneration as previously described with vein patch angioplasty procedures. This series supports effective use of either technique to achieve minimal rates of restenosis.
Katz
D
D
Department of Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
Snyder
S O
SO
Gandhi
R H
RH
Wheeler
J R
JR
Gregory
R T
RT
Gayle
R G
RG
Parent
F N
FN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene