Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of in situ ring-stripping retrograde carotid endarterectomy (IS-RRCEA) in long-segment, symptomatic, chronic common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO).
Methods: Thirty-nine patients (24 men; 15 women) with symptomatic chronic CCAO who underwent IS-RRCEA in our center were included retrospectively. The mean age of the men was significantly less than that of the women (59.6 ± 5.8 vs. 67.8 ± 6.3 years; P < 0.001). Risk factors, clinical characteristics, and CCAO classification of patients and effectiveness and safety of IS-RRCEA were analyzed.
Results: Patients presented with the following symptoms: dizziness (6; 15.4%), transient ischemic attack (TIA; 33; 84.6%), and decreased vision (15; 38.5%). IS-RRCEA was performed on the left side in 25 (64.1%) cases and on the right side in 14 (35.9%) cases. The technical success rate of the procedure was 100%. Cerebral perfusion on the ipsilateral site improved in all patients. In the postoperative period, stroke and myocardial infarction occurred in one patient, and recurrent laryngeal nerve damage occurred in another; these patients' symptoms mostly resolved except for residual paresis in the stroke patient. Thirty-eight patients (97.4%) were followed for a mean of 29 ± 13.3 months after the IS-RRCEA; in 1-year follow-up, 31 patients (31/33; 93.9%) with preoperative TIA have had no TIAs; 2 patients (2/33; 6.1%) have fewer TIAs. Two patients (2/6; 33.3%) with preoperative dizziness have had no dizziness, and 4 (4/6; 66.7%) have had fewer episode of dizziness, no recurrent stenosis (>50%), or recognized occlusion.
Conclusions: Our single-center experience indicates that IS-RRCEA is an effective treatment for selected types of CCAO. Studies of the operation in larger populations with longer term follow-up should be conducted.
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