Combined carotid and coronary operations: when are they necessary?

Three groups of patients were analyzed to ascertain the risk of combined carotid/coronary operations and the risk factors for perioperative stroke following coronary artery bypass (CAB). Group 1 (N = 132) had simultaneous carotid endarterectomy and CAB, Group 2 (N = 51) were patients having perioperative stroke following elective CAB, and Group 3 (N = 169) had CAB alone but had prior history of either asymptomatic cervical bruit, stroke/transient cerebral ischemic attack (TIA), or carotid endarterectomy. Hospital mortality and perioperative stroke rate in the combined carotid/coronary group were 3.0% (4/132) and 1.6% (2/126), respectively. These rates were not significantly different from those of a control group having CAB alone. Overall incidence of postoperative stroke in 5,676 patients having CAB alone was 0.9% (51 patients). The incidence of perioperative stroke in patients with asymptomatic bruit or prior history of stroke or TIA undergoing CAB alone was 3.3% (2/60) and 8.6% (6/70), respectively. The majority of strokes following CAB appear to be embolic in origin. Indications for simultaneous carotid/coronary operations are bilateral carotid disease and symptomatic carotid vascular disease associated with unstable angina, left main obstruction, or diffuse multivessel disease. Staged procedures are recommended for patients with stable angina and symptomatic carotid lesions and for difficult carotid revascularization procedures. CAB alone may be performed for most patients with asymptomatic cervical bruit, moderate or mild carotid artery obstruction, and unstable angina associated with prior stroke, although in the third situation postoperative risk of neurological injury may be increased.