Comparison of Standard Carotid Endarterectomy with Dacron Patch Angioplasty versus Eversion Carotid Endarterectomy during a 4-Year Period

Currently, the two primary approaches to carotid endarterectomy for extracranial carotid stenosis are carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty and eversion carotid endarterectomy. In a retrospective study over a 4-year period from 1998 to 2002, we had an opportunity to compare the two approaches as two surgeons utilized carotid endarterectomy with Dacron patch angioplasty and two other surgeons utilized eversion carotid endarterectomy. During the 4-year period, 189 carotid endarterectomies were performed, 125 with Dacron patch angioplasty (CE-P) and 64 with eversion (EE) endarterectomy. There were no significant differences in age of the patients, operative indication, or associated risk factors between the two groups. Perioperative outcome measurement in the CE-P versus EE included stroke or transient ischemic attack, 1.6 per cent versus 1.56 per cent, cranial nerve injury, 2.4 per cent versus 3.13 per cent; death, 0.8 per cent versus 0 per cent; need for operative conversion or revision, 2.4 per cent versus 7.81 per cent, respectively. Only the need for operative conversion or revision reached significant difference ( P < 0.05), although the need decreased to 4 per cent for the last 50 EE cases. Recurrent stenosis of 50 per cent to 79 per cent was 4.88 per cent versus 3.13 per cent and >80 per cent was 0.81 per cent versus 0 per cent in the CE-P versus EE group over a follow up of 16.3 months and 17.0 months, respectively. We conclude that both CE-P and EE are equally efficacious operative approaches to extracranial carotid occlusive disease.