Carotid endarterectomy versus carotid angioplasty cui bono.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the current status of carotid angioplasty (CAS) versus carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in the management of patients with carotid bifurcation disease.


METHODS
Retrospective review of published and presented prospective randomized trials to date, regarding comparative results of CAS versus CEA.


METHODS
Review of six published prospective randomized trials, one trial presented in press, and one trial completed and being analyzed. Large population based studies and a comparative registry study are also included.


METHODS
Retrospective literature review.


RESULTS
The results today favor CEA over CAS with respect to stroke morbidity, mortality, freedom from recurrence, and cost.


CONCLUSIONS
At the present time, CEA remains the intervention of choice in the management of carotid bifurcation disease.
Moore
W S
WS
Division of Vascular Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Room 510-6, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6908, USA. wmoore@mednet.ucla.edu
D017130:Angioplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome