[External carotid endarterectomy]

Noneoperative treatment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion is associated with increased recurrent stroke rates. Several randomized trials have validated the use of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to treat symptomatic internal carotid artery occlusions. The aim of this study is to analyze the data from external CEA for treatment of symptomatic ICA occlusions, to evaluate its safety and outcomes.

302 surgical interventions on the carotid artery in 295 patients had been operated for 42 months (from January 2006 to June 2009) at the "Department of Vascular Surgery and Angiology" of "St. Ekaterina" University Hospital --Sofia. 30 patients were with symptomatic ICA occlusion, and in 17 of them we used external carotid endarterectomy. The patients had been analyzed according to the type of surgical intervention and clinical picture. The frequency of postoperative complications and outcomes had been investigated.

There were no complications in the early postoperative period. We found reduction or disappearing of the neurological signs in the patients. On the 30th day after the surgery patients were without any clinical symptoms. There were no restenosis or reoclusions at the postoperative check up. No patients died in the perioperative period (30 days).

The restoration of the ICA blood flow reduce the risk of recurrent strokes, which is demonstrated in the long term follow up. External carotid endarterectomy (ECA) is estimate procedure for relieving the hemispheric symptoms in patients with ICA occlusions.