Clinical Study

Urgent Carotid Surgery: Is It Still out of Debate?

Table 1

Comparison of clinical characteristics and results of clinical workup between patients in surgical group and those in endovascular group.

ParameterSurgical group ( )Endovascular group ( )

Sex
 Female53
 Male119
Age (y)
 Mean7075
Vascular risk factors
 Hypertension7 (43)5 (41)
 Current cigarette smoking8 (50)7 (58)
 Diabetes mellitus6 (37)8 (66)
 Hypercholesterolemia9 (56)6 (50)
 Heart disease3 (18)5 (41)
 History of amaurosis fugax, retinal infarct, transient ischemic attack, or stroke4 (25)3 (25)
Neurological status during treatment
 Asymptomatic (TIA)7 (44)3 (25)
 Symptomatic stable (minor stroke)3 (18)5 (41)
 Symptomatic stable (major stroke)6 (37)4 (33)
Median NIHSS score7.44.4
Time from onset of symptoms to treatment
 Emergency (<24 h)13 (81)11 (91)
 Urgency (<7 days)3 (18)1 (9)
Early neurological results
 Improvements (>1 NIHSS)10 (63)9 (75)
 Stable4 (25)
 Impairment (>1 NIHSS)2 (12.5)3 (25)
Early death2 (12.5)
New ischemic lesions p.o.3 (25)
Cerebral hemorrhage2 (12.5)

Note: numbers in parentheses are percentages.