Arteriotomy for Carotid Endarterectomy, from Common to Interna or Externa?

Abstract

Objective: Carotid endarterectomy is an evolving and changing procedure over its almost 70 years history. Surgery is commonly described as a total removal of plaques from the carotid tree maintained via an arteriotomy from common carotid artery to internal carotid artery. We aim to express our opinion that an incision to external carotid artery may always provide adequate reach to a plaque of internal carotid artery side. So, there is no need of internal carotid artery involvement during arteriotomy. Materials and Methods: 73 patients were included to study. All patients underwent single-sided Carotid Endarterectomy. Group A (n=61) and Group B (n=12). Group A included our primary cases Carotid Endarterectomy with artery incision Common Carotid Artery to External Carotid Artery in 61 patients. Group B patients of 12 cases received an artery incision from Common Carotid Artery to Internal Carotid Artery. Results: 2 patients in Group A (3.2%) and 2 patients (16.6%) in Group B died at the early postoperative period due to severe neurological deteriorations in 3 (4.1%) and myocardial infarction in 1 (1.3%) case, p