title: Carotid endarterectomy without angiography: a prospective randomised pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine whether duplex ultrasonography alone is an adequate examination prior to carotid endarterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  prospective, randomised, single centre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  all patients with carotid bifurcation stenosis greater than 70% - based on duplex scanning - were randomised to arteriography followed by carotid surgery (Group A n=96) or carotid surgery alone (Group B n=90). Study endpoints were neurological complications or death occurring between the day of randomisation and until 30 days after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  major neurological complications of death in 1 (1%) vs 3 (3.3%) patients in group A and B, respectively (n.s.). Minor neurological complications (only TIA) were observed in 0 and 3 (3.3%) patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  complication rates were low in both groups and within the generally accepted rate after carotid surgery in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Deriu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milite
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mercurio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonvicini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepidi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grego
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color