Benefit of carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic and asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis: a Markov model based on data from randomized controlled trials

2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 970-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohito Nagaki ◽  
Koji Sato ◽  
Takaaki Yoshida ◽  
Yuhei Yoshimoto

Object Several major randomized controlled trials of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis have addressed the net effects of CEA on the risk of stroke. However, because the risk of stroke among patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis is relatively low, whether to treat their stenosis with CEA remains an important public health issue. Methods The authors constructed a Markov model to evaluate the effectiveness of CEA. In modeling 4 health states, the probability of transition to another state was estimated using data from major randomized controlled trials. Adopting 3 comorbidity index values for baseline analyses, the authors expressed outcomes in terms of the expected number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for a hypothetical cohort undergoing CEA and another without treatment. Results In the authors' baseline analysis, CEA for asymptomatic stenosis yielded a very small benefit (0.07 QALY) for 70-year-old, normal-risk CEA candidates. Benefits decreased further, often becoming negative, as patient age, surgical risk, or comorbidity index increased. In patients with symptomatic stenosis, CEA was always more effective than conservative management, even considering variables such as comorbidities limiting life expectancy, advanced age, and increased perioperative risk. Conclusions Carotid endarterectomy for severe carotid stenosis consistently and significantly benefits patients with recent symptoms. However, surgery for asymptomatic stenosis appears justified only in carefully selected conditions: low treatment risks in relatively young individuals without any comorbidities.

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. E7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Taussky ◽  
Ricardo A. Hanel ◽  
Fredric B. Meyer

Incidental findings pose considerable management dilemmas for the treating physician and psychological burden for the respective patient. With an aging population, more patients will be diagnosed with asymptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis. Patients will have to be counseled with regard to treatment options according to their individual risk profile and according to professionals' knowledge of evidence-based data derived from large randomized control trials. Treatment consensus has long been lacking for patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis prior to any randomized controlled trials. Additionally, an individual's risk profile may be hard to assess according to knowledge gained from randomized controlled trials. Moreover, while earlier studies compared carotid endarterectomy and medical therapy, in the past years, a new therapeutic modality, carotid artery angioplasty and stenting, has emerged as a possible alternative. This has been evaluated in a recent randomized controlled trial, the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial (CREST), which compared carotid endarterectomy with angioplasty and stenting in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The following review summarizes current knowledge of the natural history, diagnosis, and treatment strategies to counsel patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 2514183X2110016
Author(s):  
Mandy D Müller ◽  
Leo H Bonati

Background: Carotid artery stenosis is an important cause for stroke. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) reduces the risk of stroke in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis and to some extent in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. More than 20 years ago, carotid artery stenting (CAS) emerged as an endovascular treatment alternative to CEA. Objective and Methods: This review summarises the available evidence from randomised clinical trials in patients with symptomatic as well as in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Results: CAS is associated with a higher risk of death or any stroke between randomisation and 30 days after treatment than CEA (odds ratio (OR) = 1.74, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.33, p < 0.0001). In a pre-defined subgroup analysis, the OR for stroke or death within 30 days after treatment was 1.11 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.64) in patients <70 years old and 2.23 (95% CI 1.61 to 3.08) in patients ≥70 years old, resulting in a significant interaction between patient age and treatment modality (interaction p = 0.007). The combination of death or any stroke up to 30 days after treatment or ipsilateral stroke during follow-up also favoured CEA (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.85, p < 0.0001). In asymptomatic patients, there is a non-significant increase in death or stroke occurring within 30 days of treatment with CAS compared to CEA (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.97, p = 0.05). The risk of peri-procedural death or stroke or ipsilateral stroke during follow-up did not differ significantly between treatments (OR = 1.27, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.84, p = 0.22). Discussion and Conclusion: In symptomatic patients, randomised evidence has consistently shown CAS to be associated with a higher risk of stroke or death within 30 days of treatment than CEA. This extra risk is mostly attributed to an increase in strokes occurring on the day of the procedure in patients ≥70 years. In asymptomatic patients, there may be a small increase in the risk of stroke or death within 30 days of treatment with CAS compared to CEA, but the currently available evidence is insufficient and further data from ongoing randomised trials are needed.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S92-S101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge L. Eller ◽  
Travis M. Dumont ◽  
Grant C. Sorkin ◽  
Maxim Mokin ◽  
Elad I. Levy ◽  
...  

Abstract Carotid artery stenting has become a viable alternative to carotid endarterectomy in the management of carotid stenosis. Over the past 20 years, many trials have attempted to compare both treatment modalities and establish the indications for each one, depending on clinical and anatomic features presented by patients. Concurrently, carotid stenting techniques and devices have evolved and made endovascular management of carotid stenosis safe and effective. Among the most important innovations are devices for distal and proximal embolic protection and new stent designs. This paper reviews these advances in the endovascular management of carotid artery stenosis within the context of the historical background.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document