title: Mechanisms of neurologic deficits and mortality with carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence and etiology of perioperative complications of carotid endarterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of carotid endarterectomies performed over 13 years. Risk factors, indications, results of electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring, and outcomes were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  University medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred sixty-seven consecutive primary carotid endarterectomies were performed on 336 patients. Indications for operation included transient ischemic attack (48.5%), asymptomatic stenosis (24%), stroke (17%), nonlateralizing ischemia (9.5%), and stroke-in-evolution (1%).
  
  
  METHODS
  Postoperative neurologic deficits (permanent and transient) and deaths were correlated with preoperative symptoms, probable mechanism of the neurologic event, intraoperative EEG changes, and the use of intraoperative shunts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four new permanent neurologic deficits (1.1%) and one transient postoperative deficit were noted. Of the five deficits, three were related to undiagnosed intraoperative cerebral ischemia and two were related to perioperative emboli. Three perioperative deaths (0.8%) occurred: two of myocardial infarction and one of an intracerebral hemorrhage from a ruptured arteriovenous malformation. Intraoperative EEG tracings for the most recent consecutive 175 procedures were analyzed. Shunts were used in 45 patients (26%), 38 of whom demonstrated significant EEG changes with carotid clamping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carotid endarterectomy can be performed with a low risk of stroke (1.1%) and death (0.8%). Stroke was due to cerebral ischemia or embolization. With meticulous surgical technique, death is due to myocardial ischemia and not neurologic events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McKinsey
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bassiouny
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piano
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spire
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Zarins
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gewertz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies