[Surgery for asymptomatic carotid stenosis: a contribution to a controversial discussion]

From 1 January 1982 to 30. June 1986, 436 operations on the internal carotid artery were performed: 164 were asymptomatic (37.6%). Morphologic indication was stenoses greater than 70% only. Supra-aortic multivessel disease played a major role. The operative mortality amounted to 0.6% (total 0.9%) and the perioperative mortality, 1.8%. The cumulative morbidity was 1.6% after the first and 1.8% after the second year, whereas the cumulative survival rate measured 89.8% after one and 80.4% after three years. Therefore surgery for asymptomatic carotid internal stenoses is justified under conditions of the restrictive indication. It also seems to be more favorable as regards early and late results.