[Reverse endarterectomy of the internal carotid]

We have described an original technique of eversion carotid endarterectomy which has been performed in two series of patients. In the first series the patients were operated on in Angers. They were 65 carotid stenosis in 56 patients with a mean follow-up of 27 months (18-36 months). In the later series, the patients were operated on in Lyon. They were 51 carotid stenosis in 43 patients with a follow-up from 1 to 24 months. The two series were comparable in term of symptoms and grade of stenosis as determined by duplex-scan and arteriography. The technique which has been previously described is safe and presents a lot of advantages over classical endarterectomy or vein graft. We observed no postoperative neurological deficit and no postoperative thrombosis. Two residual stenosis (1.7%) were measured at 30% but they did show any impairment during two years of follow up in the first series. Eversion endarterectomy of internal artery is a safe and deficient alternative to others techniques in the surgical treatment of atherosclerosis stenosis of internal carotid artery.