VASA. Zeitschrift für Gefässkrankheiten
-
Comparative Study
Immediate CEA for symptomatic carotid disease preferably performed under local anaesthesia is safe.
Previous general reservations against carotid endarterectomy (CEA) early after stroke, which were primarily based on concerns of postoperative intracerebral hemorrhage, are resolved. Moreover, a delay of surgery is proofed to be associated with a risk of recurrent cerebral ischemia. However, the complication rate of CEA seems to increase with less time interval to the onset of symptoms. The main purpose of this study was to assess the safety of very early CEA. ⋯ It seems that patients with a symptomatic high-grade ICA stenosis can undergo CEA particularly under local anaesthesia as soon as possible without anticipating an increased complication rate.