[Value of the prosthetic patch after carotid endarterectomy]

Carotid patching after carotid endarterectomy remains a subject of controversy. However the recent medical literature shows that carotid patching lowers the incidence of both residual stenosis and early restenosis. Carotid patching seems also to lower the incidence of postoperative carotid occlusion. Some authors advocate systematic patching, others recommend a more selective use of carotid patching, among patients with small caliber carotid artery and among those with restenosis.

We have realized this study to determine (1) the incidence of restenosis after direct closure in patients with internal carotid artery of more than 3.5 mm internal diameter, (2) the adequate size of the patch in carotid arteries of less than 3.5 mm interval diameter (3), the adequate material to use for carotid patching. To answer these questions, we have done a prospective study of 188 carotid endarterectomy comparing direct closure (Group A), saphenous patch (Group B), and prosthetic Gore-Tex patch (Group C) with randomization between saphenous and prosthetic patch.

In this study we were unable to show any difference among the three groups concerning postoperative mortality and neurologic complications. However we have been able to show more residual stenosis in group A than in groups B and C. One saphenous patch rupture occurred in Group B. After one year follow-up, five out of 43 restenosis occurred in Group A (11.6%). The rate of restenosis in groups B and C was 1.5% (2/135). In group B, six patients (8.7%) had a dilatation of the saphenous patch of more than 50% of their initial diameter.

In this study, carotid patch seems to lower the incidence of residual stenosis and early restenosis in small diameter internal carotid arteries. Carotid patching with a 5 mm diameter PTFE patch seems to be the ideal choice after carotid endarterectomy. Furthermore, prosthetic patching carry no risk of dilatation or rupture and spare the saphenous vein.