Prevention of stroke during carotid endarterectomy

From 1976 through 1985, 2857 carotid reconstructive procedures were performed on 2087 patients. Postoperative neurologic deficit occurred in 59 patients (2.1%). Thirty one patients (1.2%) suffered deficits that were permanent while 25 patients (0.9%) cleared to be discharged normal. In the last 5 years of the study, an aggressive approach was taken in cases where the patient was noted to have a postoperative neurologic change. It is routine to allow the patient to awaken in the operating room and to perform a simple neurologic examination prior to transport to the recovery room. If a neurologic change occurs during the postoperative period, immediate exploration is undertaken without preliminary testing. With this policy, 20 patients underwent exploration of the operated carotid artery and six of these patients recovered completely. To reduce the stroke rate from carotid endarterectomy (CE), technical errors must be kept to a minimum. Prevention of hypoperfusion with a shunt and careful mobilization of the artery to prevent microembolization should be practiced. Postoperative thrombosis can be decreased by the routine use of platelet antiaggregates and the avoidance of perioperative hypotension. Reperfusion of injury can be minimized by control of postoperative hypertension and proper preoperative selection of patients. Postoperative neurologic deficit following CE remains a relatively rare event and consequently sufficient experience in the treatment of this problem is difficult to acquire.