Background: The management of patients with severe, concomitant coronary and carotid artery occlusive disease is controversial.
Methods: Between 1975 and 1996, 512 patients (mean age, 64.9 years; 70% male) were admitted for coronary revascularization; 316 (61.7%) had asymptomatic, severe carotid disease (stenosis > 70%) and 196 (38.3%) had symptomatic carotid disease (159 [31.1%] with transient ischemia and 37 [7.2%] with completed stroke). In group 1, coronary revascularization and carotid endarterectomy were simultaneously performed in 255 patients (49.8%) with unstable angina. In group 2 (staged approach), carotid endarterectomy was performed before coronary revascularization in 257 patients (50.2%) without unstable angina.
Results: Before 1986, the incidence of stroke and death was greater in group 1 (n = 149) than in group 2 (n = 156) (14 [9.4%] versus 4 [2.6%]; p < 0.01). Since 1986, outcomes in group 1 (n = 106) and group 2 (n = 101) have been similar for stroke (2 [1.9%] versus 2 [2.0%]), death (4 [3.8%] versus 3 [3.0%]), and myocardial infarction (4 [3.8%] versus 5 [5.0%]). Significant univariate and multivariate predictors of adverse outcome were primarily heart-related (reoperation, intraaortic balloon use, ejection fraction < 0.50, and angina grade 4 for death; age > 70 years and congestive heart failure for stroke).
Conclusions: Despite highly selected populations, contemporary surgical results do not indicate that staged treatment of severe, concomitant coronary and carotid artery occlusive disease has an advantage over simultaneous treatment. Advances in myocardial protection and perioperative hemodynamic management may account for the low incidences of stroke and death in these operations.