title: Urgent carotid artery repair: retrospective study of 21 cases.
abstract: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the outcome of urgent surgical repair in patients with symptomatic carotid artery lesions. The study population included 21 patients who underwent carotid artery repair less than 24 hr after diagnostic work-up. Indications included crescendo transient ischemic attacks in 5 cases, fluctuating neurological deficits in 11, and stroke in evolution in 5. Immediate mortality was 9.5%. Mean follow-up was 55 months. Actuarial survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 90% and 62%, respectively. Actuarial neurological deficit-free rates at 1 and 5 years were 95% and 76%, respectively. The results of this study document the effectiveness of urgent carotid artery repair for treatment of acute cerebral ischemia. Although higher than elective surgery, morbidity and mortality are acceptable, given the severity of illness in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Cardiovasculaire, Hôpital Nord, Centre Hospitaller Universitaire, Saint Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curtil
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buffiere
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Favre
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Barral
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome