Carotid endarterectomy for non-hemispheric ischaemia: long-term follow-up

Earlier results reported by the authors suggest that carotid endarterectomy can relieve symptoms of non-hemispheric ischemia in patients who present with hemodynamically significant carotid stenosis. Long-term follow-up of a subgroup of these patients is described. Some 61 patients with non-hemispheric ischemia who underwent carotid endarterectomy were reviewed. Indications for surgery and postoperative results (stroke, death, symptom relief) were determined by office visit or phone interview. Results in these patients were compared with those of an entire patient population who underwent endarterectomy performed by the authors. Mean (s.d.) follow-up was available for 42.3 (31.7) months. Perioperative stroke rate (4.9%), survival (85.3 and 64.9% at 3 and 5 years respectively) and stroke-free survival (77.1 and 63.4% at 3 and 5 years respectively) were not different from that entire cohort of 553 patients. During follow-up, 11 patients (18%) developed recurrent symptoms of non-hemispheric ischemia. Carotid endarterectomy is successful in providing long-term relief of symptoms of non-hemispheric ischemia in most patients with significant carotid bifurcation stenosis. Results in such patients are similar to those seen in patients with symptoms of anterior cerebral ischemia or with symptom-free stenoses.