To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Excellent Outcomes for High-Risk Patients Undergoing Stroke-Prevention Surgical Procedure URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/2287A2.htm Doctor's Guide August 14, 2008
CHICAGO -- August 14, 2008 -- New research published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that "high-risk" patients with multiple medical conditions, including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, can safely undergo carotid endarterectomy. "In our study, carotid endarterectomy achieved low rates of postsurgical mortality and morbidity and translated into long-term freedom from stroke in high-risk patients, despite their poor health," says Alan Dardik, MD, PhD, FACS, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System. "The presence of multiple medical comorbidities is not sufficient to automatically rule out this treatment, which has demonstrated long-term efficacy in preventing stroke in medically high-risk patients." The retrospective study, which analysed the outcomes of carotid endarterectomy in 120 patients treated in the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, showed low incidences of mortality, stroke, and heart attack within 30 days of carotid endarterectomy. Survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 75% and 35%, respectively. Median survival was 8.9 years. Freedom from stroke was 90% at 12 years. Age, hypertension, and elevated creatinine were all found to be significant, independent risk factors for mortality. Prior to the operation, patients had a high incidence of symptomatic presentation, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and pulmonary disease compared with the general carotid endarterectomy population. SOURCE: Weber Shandwick Worldwide --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.