Background and purpose: Carotid endarterectomy has been shown to be beneficial in patients with high-grade carotid stenosis. This benefit will be realized only if the operation is performed safely. We determined the ratio of operative complications and sought to identify the risk factors for operative stroke and death from carotid endarterectomy.
Methods: Two hundred fifty seven patients underwent carotid endarterectomy during 1995-1999 years in Vilnius emergency hospital. Nineteen potential risk factors for operative complications were examined.
Results: Mortality of endarterectomy was 2.7%, the overall risk of stroke and/or death was 4.3%. In multivariate logistic-regression models a symptom status (recent history of stroke) and angiographic features (contralateral stenosis 70% and more) were as independent risk factors for operative stroke and death.
Conclusions: The risk of stroke and death from carotid endarterectomy is related to clinical and angiographic characteristics. These observations may help clinicians to estimate operative risks for individual patients.