Combined surgical approach to coexistent carotid and coronary artery disease: early and late results.
BACKGROUND
The management of patients with simultaneous coronary artery and carotid artery disease is still controversial.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the records and follow-up data of 139 consecutive patients undergoing simultaneous coronary artery bypass graft and carotid endarterectomy from 1981 to 1999 was carried out.


RESULTS
Early mortality was 2.1%, perioperative myocardial infarction and stroke rates were 2.8 and 1.4%, respectively. Survival at 7 years was 74.7+/-5.1% and event-free survival at 7 years was 67.9+/-5.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined surgical approach has proved to be effective and safe allowing the treatment of both diseases in a single operative procedure.
Vitali
E
E
Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery A. De Gasperis, Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Piazza Ospedale, Maggiore 3, Milan 20162, Italy. evitali@ospedaleniguarda.it
Lanfranconi
M
M
Bruschi
G
G
Colombo
T
T
Russo
C
C
D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome