Carotid endarterectomy without arteriography

Arteriography has been considered the "gold standard" for evaluation of the cerebrovascular circulation prior to carotid endarterectomy. However, arteriography is associated with a neurologic complication rate of up to 12% in certain high-risk groups. Previous studies have shown that the duplex scanner has greater sensitivity than arteriography when both are correlated to the surgical specimen. From January 1986 to December 1991 a total of 174 carotid endarterectomies were performed in 152 patients, of which 61% were symptomatic. A total of 110 carotid endarterectomies in 92 patients were performed without the use of arteriography. Of the 64 patients in whom arteriograms were obtained, 33 were made at consultation and the others for various indications. Operative findings confirmed the duplex scan findings in all cases. A total of 91% of patients had intraoperative completion arteriograms. Of the 55 patients who also had intracranial views taken, two had a 50% siphon stenosis and one patient had a small intracranial aneurysm. None of these findings would have changed our management. The overall neurologic complication rate was one (0.66%) death due to stroke and four (2.6%) patients with transient ischemic attacks. Carotid endarterectomy can be safely performed without preoperative arteriography based on a detailed history and physical examination that includes bilateral upper extremity blood pressures and a duplex scan performed by a validated laboratory.