Reconstruction of the carotid artery. A review of 167 operations.

During an 8-year period 149 patients underwent 167 carotid operations. TIA or amaurosis fugax was the operative indication in 60% of the cases and TIA-IR (minor strokes) in 25%. The operative mortality was 4.2%. New neurological permanent deficits appeared in connection with the operation in 4.2%. They were all of benign character. The mean follow-up time was 23 months with a range from 4 months to 8 years. The postoperative follow-up revealed a 10% frequency of strokes during a 6-year period, i.e. 1.6% per year. The 5-year survival for the whole material was 71% and for patients without signs of coronary artery disease, operative mortality excluded, it was identical with the 5-year survival for the "normal population" in the same area, i.e. 85%.