Carotid endarterectomy: neither shunting nor patching technique

Abstract

Introduction: The role of carotid shunting in carotid endarterectomy is controversial. Many studies have concluded that patch angioplasty is preferable to primary closure, while others found that it had no value. The aim of this study was to report the results of our first series of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with a non-shunting technique and primary closure of the arteriotomy. Methods: From October 2014 to October 2017, 63 patients with unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis underwent carotid endarterectomy. There were 48 males and 15 females, the mean age was 63.16 years, and all were symptomatic. Conventional endarterectomy was performed without a shunt in all cases. All arteriotomies were closed primarily. We analysed the early and late outcomes of this procedure with at least 18 months of follow-up. Results: Diabetes was the most frequent comorbidity. Most of the patients had a history of transient ischemic attack (49.2%) or stroke (44.4%). All patients had significant (moderate to severe) carotid artery stenosis. Postoperatively, 2 (3.2%) patients developed ischemic stroke, one (1.6%) suffered hypoglossal nerve injury, and one had a postoperative cervical hematoma. During follow-up, one patient developed asymptomatic total occlusion of the endartrectomized carotid artery at 18 months. Conclusion: Carotid endarterectomy without shunting is a safe procedure. The short- and longer-term outcomes are not significantly inferior to those of the routine or selective shunting technique, and the rate of restenosis is not higher than that of patch angioplasty closure.