Carotid endarterioectomy in elderly patients

The early results of surgical treatment of 127 patients with atherosclerotic lesions of carotid arteries are analyzed. The comparative study of the results is represented. All patients were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 64 pts older than 60 years. The second consisted of 63 pts younger than 60 years. All patients underwent to 137 operations - carotid endarterieectomy. Severe stenoses and contralateral lesions were observed in second group more frequently (p<0.05). Ischemic heart disease (p<0.001), lower extremities atherosclerosis and COPD (p<0.05) were prevalent among the concominant pathology. Above mentioned peculiarities determined the necessity of a surgical strategy optimization in older group of patients. The classic carotid endarterioectomy with autoarter al plasty (50% of operations performed) in conjunction with the conduction analgesia are preferable. Using this technique allowed us to achieve good results, low frequency of postoperative strokes in older group of patients (1.5%) and absence of lethal outcomes.