Incidence and risk factors for hypotension after carotid artery stenting: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Hypotension is recognized as a common complication after carotid artery stenting, but its incidence and the risk factors associated with it are uncertain. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate and identify risk factors for hypotension after surgery.

We retrieved risk factors from eight databases for case-control and cross-sectional studies of hypotension after carotid artery stenting according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines on 28 November 2022. Data were analyzed by using R4.2.1 and Review Manager 5.3.

A total of 2843 samples were searched, and 17 publications were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that the incidence of hypotension after surgery was 28.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] (0.225, 0.347)). Age ⩾ 65 years (odds ratio [OR] = 4.55, 95% CI (2.50, 8.29), P < 0.00001), stenosis site (bulb) (OR = 4.41, 95% CI (2.50, 7.79), P < 0.00001), severe stenosis (OR = 3.56, 95% CI (1.62, 7.85), P = 0.002), stenosis proximity (⩽ 10 mm) to bifurcation (OR = 2.69, 95% CI (1.74, 4.15), P < 0.00001), calcified plaques (OR = 4.64, 95% CI (1.93, 11.14), P = 0.0006), post-balloon dilation (OR = 5.95, 95% CI (2.31, 15.31), P = 0.0002), bilateral carotid stenting (OR = 30.51, 95% CI (2.33, 399.89), P = 0.009), and intravenous fluid intake/mL on the first postoperative day (mean difference = 444.99, 95% CI (141.40, 748.59), P = 0.004) were risk factors for hypotension after surgery.

A high incidence of hypotension was observed after carotid artery stenting. Age, stenosis site, severe stenosis, stenosis proximity to bifurcation, calcified plaques, post-balloon dilation, type of surgery, and intravenous fluid intake were identified as risk factors.