Venous Patch Grafts and Carotid Endarterectomy

Abstract

• Seventy-eight patients underwent 83 carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) with vein patch grafts from 1980 to 1985. A technically satisfactory endarterectomy was confirmed by completion arteriogram in all instances. Indications for venous patch graft included a diameter of the internal carotid artery of less than 3.0 mm (49 patients); an internal carotid artery diameter of less than 3.5 mm, with contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion (nine patients); unexpected stenosis detected by completion arteriogram (six patients); a reexploration for neurologic deficit following conventional CEA (three patients); and irregular surface or edges of the endarterectomy site or high extension of a plaque (16 patients). Late follow-up arteriograms (66 studies) after a mean two-year interval revealed three instances (4.5%) of recurrent asymptomatic stenosis. Four patients (6%) developed late occlusions; three were asymptomatic and one was associated with major stroke 2½ years later. One patient (1.5%) developed a false aneurysm. One patient experienced a postoperative transient ischemic attack. There was no operative mortality. Six patients died in the late follow-up period. The venous patch graft ensured immediate patency of the internal carotid artery but failed to prevent recurrent stenosis or occlusion in internal carotid arteries less than 3.0 mm in diameter. (Arch Surg 1987;122:1134-1138)