title: Editor's choice - Safety of carotid endarterectomy after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke: a case-controlled multicentre registry study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have been published on the safety of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Registry reports have been recommended in order to gather large study groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, registry based, case controlled study on prospectively gathered data from Sweden, the capital region of Finland, and from Denmark, including 30 days of follow up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group was a consecutive series of 5526 patients who had CEA for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis during a 4.5 year period. Among these, 202 (4%) had IVT prior to surgery, including 117 having CEA within 14 days, and 59 within 7 days of thrombolysis. IVT as well as CEA were performed following established guidelines. The median time from index symptom to CEA was 12 days (range 0-130, IQR 7-21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30 day combined stroke and death rate was 3.5% (95% CI 1.69-6.99) for those having IVT + CEA, 4.1% (95% CI 3.46-4.39) for those having CEA without previous IVT (odds ratio 0.84 [95% CI 0.39-1.81]), 3.4% (95% CI 1.33-8.39) for those having IVT + CEA within 14 days, and 5.1% (95% CI 1.74-13.91) for those having IVT + CEA within 7 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data on the time from symptoms to CEA in patients not having IVT, Rankin score, degree of stenosis, and cerebral imaging were not available. Despite its weaknesses, this study reasserts that CEA can be performed within the recommended 2 weeks of the onset of symptoms and IVT without increasing the risk of peri-operative stroke or death. Centres and vascular registries are recommended to continue monitoring changes in patient characteristics, lead times, and major complications after CEA in general, with a special focus on those who have undergone a prior thrombolysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: lisbet.knudsen.rathenborg@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Rathenborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venermo
authors.affiliation: Blekinge Hospital, Karlskrona, Sweden; Department of Surgical Sciences, Vascular Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Troëng
authors.affiliation: Board of Management, Hospital of Northern Zealand, Hilleroed, Denmark.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vikatmaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wahlgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ijäs
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Vascular Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björck
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Vascular Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kragsterman
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
keywords: Carotid endarterectomy; Complications; Thrombolysis