Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
A Rat Carotid Artery Pressure-Controlled Segmental Balloon Injury with Periadventitial Therapeutic Application
Published on: July 9, 2020
Experiences with carotid endarterectomy at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute
Insights
Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a safe and effective procedure for stroke prevention. This study shows CEA provides excellent long-term outcomes, with most patients remaining free from adverse cerebral events.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Neurology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Atherosclerotic carotid artery disease is a significant risk factor for stroke.
- Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an established intervention for stroke prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and long-term effectiveness of CEA in preventing stroke.
- To assess the long-term patency of the internal carotid artery after repair with autologous saphenous vein patch.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 39 patients undergoing CEA between 1997 and 2008.
- Patients included symptomatic (>70% stenosis) and asymptomatic (>80% stenosis) individuals.
- CEA performed under general anesthesia with carotid shunt and vein patch repair; follow-up included duplex scans.
Main Results:
- All patients recovered well with no major adverse cerebral events.
- Minor morbidities included TIA, neck hematoma, and transient hypoglossal paresis.
- 33 patients remained disease-free during follow-up (3-120 months); overall excellent outcomes were observed.
Conclusions:
- Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) offers significant stroke prevention.
- The procedure demonstrates excellent short-term and long-term efficacy.
- Vein patch angioplasty for arteriotomy repair ensures long-term internal carotid artery patency.
Background:
Atherosclerotic carotid artery disease poses a grave threat to cerebral circulation, leading to a stroke with its devastating sequelae, if left untreated. Carotid endarterectomy has a proven track record with compelling evidence in stroke prevention.
Objectives:
a) To confirm that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is safe and effective in preventing stroke at both short and long term. b) to demonstrate long term patency of internal carotid artery when arteriotomy repair is performed using autologous saphenous vein patch.
Materials And Methods:
During ten years, from September 1997 to February 2008, thirty nine patients who underwent consecutive carotid endarterectomy at our institute, form the basis of this report. Their age ranged from thirty to seventy eight years, with a mean age of 56. There were four women in this cohort. Thirty seven patients were symptomatic with >70% stenosis and two were asymptomatic with >80% stenosis, incidentally detected. Imaging included Duplex scan and MRA for carotid territory and brain, and non-invasive cardiac assessment. Co-morbidities included smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Carotid Endarterectomy was performed under general anaesthesia, using carotid shunt and vein patch arteriotomy repair.
Results:
All the patients made satisfactory recovery, without major adverse cerebral events in this series. Morbidities included Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) in two, needing only medications in one, and carotid stenting in the other. Minor morbidities included neck hematoma in two and transient hypoglossal paresis in three patients. Yearly follow-up included duplex scan assessment for all the patients. Two patients died of contralateral stroke, two of myocardial events and two were lost to follow up. Thirty three patients are well and free of the disease during the follow up of three to 120 months.
Conclusion:
Carotid endarterectomy provided near total freedom from adverse cerebral events and its catastrophic sequelae, leading to excellent outcome, both short as well as long term.
