Carotid endarterectomy in high-risk Arab patients.
OBJECTIVE
Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has developed quickly and has started to replace carotid endarterectomy (CE) in high-risk cases. However, there are conflicting reports about the results of CAS in such cases. The current study was undertaken to assess the results of CE in high-risk Arab patients over two years at a single center.


METHODS
The study was performed on all Arab patients referred to King Fahd Hospital of the University for CE with high risk for surgery from August 2004 to August 2006. High-risk factors were recorded. The primary end points were the occurrence of stroke, myocardial infarction and death in the first 30 postoperative days and in follow-up for one year.


RESULTS
Thirty-one CE procedures were performed in 29 high-risk Arab patients. Twenty-five patients had severe ischemic heart disease and were prepared for coronary artery bypass grafting. One patient (3%) had preoperative cardiac arrest and after resuscitation developed stroke. One patient died (3%) suddenly nine months after surgery. No recurrence or stroke was recorded over a one-year follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
This short report showed that CE can be performed safely in high-risk Arab patients.
Elsharawy
Mohamed A
MA
Department of Vascular Surgery, King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. elsharawya@yahoo.co.uk
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018912:Arabs; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome