title: Is it necessary to use an intraluminal shunt in symptomatic patients with contralateral carotid artery stenosis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to investigate our results of carotid endarterectomy operations in symptomatic patients operated by using an intraluminal shunt and without use of an intraluminal shunt in patients with contralateral carotid artery stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the results of 144 carotid endarterectomy operations in patients with contralateral carotid artery stenosis from January 2007 to December 2012. These patients were allocated in 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 70) consisted of the patients operated by using an intraluminal shunt and Group 2 (n = 74) consisted of the patients operated without use of an intraluminal shunt. Postoperative neurologic complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Temporary neurologic impairment developed in 3 (4.3%) patients postoperatively in group 1 and in 2 (2.7%) patients postoperatively in group 2. This difference was not statistically significant between groups (p = 0.675). None of the patients returned to operation theatre due to excessive bleeding postoperatively. The stroke/death rate was 0.7% in the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients with contralateral occlusion can be performed safely without the systematic use of a shunt. However, it is not possible to define exact indications for use of a shunt as we have no information on the reason why some surgeons used a shunt.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canbaz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ege
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sunar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*