[How competence are Germany's carotid surgeons. Evaluation after 15,000 interventions].

With the aim of assuring the quality of surgical treatment of carotid stenoses--also in conformity with legal requirements--the German Vascular Society (DGG) has established the recording of surgical data of patients prior to, during and following carotid reconstructive procedures. Since its inception, the data from 158 centers covering 15,116 interventions are now available. In comparison with data in the literature, the rate of severe post-operative neurological deficits was found to be only 1.9%, and the mortality rate 1%. Statistical analysis has shown that the risks of morbidity and mortality depend on the patient's risk profile and on the nature and morphology of the carotid lesion.