Carotid endarterectomy with or without concomitant aortocoronary bypass in elderly patients: an analysis of 599 procedures.

AIM: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been established as an effective treatment of carotid artery disease. Controversial remains the performance of CEA in elderly patients. Aim of this study is to report the mid-term (30 days) neurological outcome in patients older than 75 years after CEA with or without simultaneous aortocoronary bypass (CABG).

METHODS: 599 patients undergoing CEA from January 2000 to December 2007 were enrolled. Isolated CEA was performed in 398/599 (66%) patients (group A). In 201/599(34%) patients (group B) was performed a combined procedure (CEA/CABG). 90/398(23%) patients of group A (group A1) and 49/201(24%) patients of group B (group B1) were >75 years old. 308/398 (77%) patients of group A (group A2) and 152/201 (76%) patients of group B (group B2) were <75 years old. Mortality, TIA and stroke rates as well as pre- and postoperative Rankin scale (RS) were reported.

RESULTS: In isolated CEAs, mortality was higher in group A1 (A1:1.1% vs A2:0%, P=0.51). We found no significant differences in rates of TIA (A1:4.4% versus A2:3.2%, P=0.79) or stroke (A1:2.2% versus A2:1.9%, P=0.98). In CEA/CABG, mortality was 0% in group B1 and 5.9% in group B2 (P=0.17). No significant differences in rates of TIA (B1:2% versus B2:3%, P=0.76) or stroke (B1:2% versus B2:5%, P=0.70) were reported. Preoperative RS was the only positive predictor for postoperative stroke in groups A1 (P=0.02) and B1 (P=0.001).

CONCLUSION: CEA is an appropriate and safe procedure in elderly patients. Under consideration should be the performance of CEA in elderly patients with high preoperative RS.