title: [Results of carotid endarterectomy in elderly patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Forty-five per cent of stoke patients have a surgically accessible stenosis. The objective of our study is to describe the response to carotid endarterectomy (EA) in patients of advanced age compared to younger ones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of the clinical history of all patients who underwent an endarterectomy in a tertiary hospital between January 1995 and December 2006. The patients were grouped into those 75 years or older and those less than this age. The incidence of peri-operative complications in the first month after surgery, and the long-term mortality was evaluated using a survival analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were collected on 147 EA in 134 patients of 75 years or more, and on 201 EA in 177 patients less than 75 years-old. The incidence of peri-operative complications was similar in both groups, with a mortality of 2% in the older age group and a stroke incidence of 2.6% (half transient ischaemic accidents). The older patients had a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, with a survival of 86% at one year and 54% at 5 years and with the main cause of death being heart disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carotid EA is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of extracranial carotid stenosis in the elderly, having the same peri-operative morbidity and mortality as younger ones. Age must not affect our therapeutic attitude, although an exhaustive cardiology study must be made in the elderly prior to the operation.
authors: Servicio de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular, Hospital Xeral-Calde, Lugo, España. jlduran@eresmas.com
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Durán Mariño
authors: Francisco Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Rielo Arias
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Prado Miranda
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Pena Holguín
authors: Carola
authors: C
authors: Rubio Taboada
authors: Lucía
authors: L
authors: Martínez Gallego