Role of completion angioscopy in detecting technical error after carotid endarterectomy.

Completion fibreoptic angioscopy was performed in 30 consecutive patients after carotid endarterectomy. The aim was to evaluate the potential role of angioscopy as a quality-control technique. Major abnormalities (two initial flaps, two large thrombi) were identified in four patients and minor adherent thrombus was encountered in five. All abnormalities were corrected before restoration of flow. This preliminary experience suggests that completion angioscopy merits further study as a method for the intraoperative detection of potentially harmful lesions after carotid endarterectomy.