An audit of trends and current practice of carotid endarterectomy in Edinburgh (1975-1990).

Changes in the patient population and trends in management were studied for 260 consecutive carotid endarterectomies performed during the periods 1975-1982 and 1983-1990. A 43% increase was observed in the number of operations (from 107 to 153), an 81% increase taking into account patients randomized to medical treatment in the European Carotid Surgery Trial. There were significant reductions in patients continuing to smoke (79 to 60%, P = 0.001), in those with systolic hypertension (21 to 11%, P = 0.018) and diastolic hypertension (26 to 12%, P = 0.002), and in those with asymptomatic carotid lesions (8 to 2%, P = 0.031). There were significant increases in the proportion of patients with strokes presenting with a residual neurological deficit (40 to 66%, P = 0.024), and in those with ocular symptoms (30 to 50%, P = 0.001) and with stenoses greater than 50% (58 to 71%, P = 0.018). This study suggests a trend for a higher risk population with more severe carotid disease. In the light of results of clinical trials, further evolution of patient selection is likely to occur and should be taken into account when evaluating the risk of carotid endarterectomy.