This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Michael O. Murphy Joel Dunning Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Murphy, M. O. Articles by Dunning, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Murphy, M. O. Articles by Dunning, J. Related Collections Cardiac - other Education Peripheral vascular

In patients undergoing cardiac surgery does asymptomatic significant carotid artery stenosis warrant carotid endarterectomy?

^a Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
^b Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 7801548122.

E-mail address: joeldunning{at}doctors.org.uk (J. Dunning).

A best evidence topic in cardiovascular surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether asymptomatic significant carotid artery stenosis (ASCAS) warrants carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. 128 Papers were found using the reported search, of these 10 presented represent the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results, and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. We conclude that low risk, younger patients with a significant asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis should be considered for carotid endarterectomy at some stage. There is, however, no strong evidence that this must be performed prior to, or during CABG.

Key Words: Evidence-based medicine; Thoracic surgery; Carotid endarterectomy