Endarterectomía carotídea, resultados a mediano y largo plazo.

Introduction: Between 50 and 80% of patients with a stroke, have lesions of the common or internal carotid artery, of these 15 to 30% are severely disabled, and 20% require institutionalization. Aim: To analyze the epidemiological variables involved in carotid stenosis, and the medium to long-term results of carotid endarterectomy. Materials and Method: Observational, descriptive and retrospective study, analyzed 103 successive carotid endarterectomies procedures in 97 patients, in a period of 12 years (2007 to 2018), in the Surgery Department of the Dr. Eduardo Pereira Hospital, Valparaíso, Chile. Results: Male sex 64.9%, average age 70.2 years, symptomatic 65.9%, most frequent clinical presentation, transient ischemic attack (48.4%), immediate global morbidity of the procedure 20.3%, peri-operative AVE 3.9% (none disabling), peripheral nerve dysfunction 5.8%, operative mortality < 30 days (1.9%), due to acute ischemic heart disease, with a follow-up of 100% at 12 months, no case of recurrent stenosis or pseudoaneurysm was evident, no patient died or had a long-term stroke. Discussion: The large randomized trials have demonstrated the benefit of carotid endarterectomy, in the reduction of future strokes, these benefits are maximal with stenosis > 70%, and when performed within a period less than 2 weeks of the ischemic event. Conclusion: Carotid endarterectomy remains the surgical procedure of choice, to treat severe carotid stenosis, performed in experienced centers, it is a safe and effective procedure in the prevention of cerebral ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]