Fifty years of carotid surgery--hail and farewell?
1Department of Surgery, Midwestern Regional Hospital and the University of Limerick, Ireland.
Irish Journal of Medical Science
|November 16, 2004
Abstract
Background:
The operation of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has had an eventful 50 years.
Aim:
This report reviews the literature comparing the outcome of CEA with that of medical therapy, angioplasty and stenting.
Methods:
A review of the published randomised trials.
Results And Conclusion:
After 50 years, CEA is still the gold standard in the management of severe symptomatic carotid artery disease. It is doubtful, however, that in another 50 years it will continue to retain that pre-eminence.
