title: Neurologic and functional long-term outcome after carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this research was to assess the neurologic status of patients a year after endarterectomy with the use of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the degree of disability using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and to examine the patients' subjective evaluation of their health.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred two patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis who underwent endarterectomy and attended a 1-year follow-up examination were enrolled in the study. The material comprised 72 (70.6%) men and 30 (29.4%) women. Before the surgery, the patients' neurologic status was assessed according to the NIHSS, and their functional status was rated with the mRS. Additionally, the patients were asked to assess their life quality on a 10-point Likert scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean NIHSS score before the operation was 2.76 points (SD 2.47), whereas a year after it was 2.05 points (SD 1.84) (P < .0001). The NIHSS scores that improved significantly a year after endarterectomy were level of consciousness-questions and commands, motor leg, and sensory (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients' neurologic status assessed with the NIHSS improved significantly 1 year after carotid endarterectomy mostly because of the improvement in their verbal and motor communication ability, physical condition and agility, and reduction in sensory disturbances. The observed changes in the neurologic status were reflected in the functional status and subjective life quality assessment, which appeared to be significantly better a year after the surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular, General, and Oncologic Surgery, Memorial Copernicus Hospital, Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: pk.kazmierski@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaźmierski
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular, General, and Oncologic Surgery, Memorial Copernicus Hospital, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stelągowski
authors.affiliation: Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Clinic, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasielska-Trojan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bogusiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Epileptology, and Stroke, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glabinski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Endarterectomy; NIHSS; Rankin scale; stroke