Combined Carotid and Coronary Artery Disease

Stroke is a devastating complication of coronary artery bypass surgery. It increases the mortality and morbidity of the operation, and prolongs the length of hospital stay. Functional disability from the stroke may dramatically reduce the quality of life post-operatively, and some patients will require permanent institutional care. Although there are many causes of stroke extra-cerebral carotid stenosis is the most important predictor of stroke for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). If patients are identified before coronary intervention, they may benefit from treatment of their carotid disease. Carotid endarterectomy can be performed before or simultaneously with coronary artery bypass. However, carotid angioplasty with stenting and cerebral protection may offer a superior method to conventional surgery in this high-risk group of patients.