Carotid endarterectomy in patients with chronic renal insufficiency: A recent series of 184 cases

Background: The published results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) patients are contradictory, mostly because of the relatively small number of patients in these studies. To better assess the neurologic complications and mortality, we reviewed a recent and substantially larger series of CRI patients who underwent CEAs. Methods: From March 2000 to March 2003, 675 consecutive primary CEAs were performed in 609 patients (346 men, 57%) under general anesthesia. Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis accounted for 71% of cases. CRI (serum creatinine level < 1.5 mg/dL) was detected in 166 patients (27%) who underwent 184 CEAs. The remaining 443 patients (73%) had 491 CEAs. Results: Patients with CRI were different in age (76 ± 8 years vs 72 ± 9 years, P <. 001), male gender (73% vs 51%, P <. 001), coronary artery disease (50% vs 28%, P <. 001), and diabetes mellitus incidence (38% vs 27%, P <. 02). No significant difference in stroke rates was observed between the CRI patients and the control group (1.2% vs 0.5%). The mortality rate for CRI patients was 3%, whereas it was 0% for the control group (P <. 002). The 143 CRI patients with serum creatinine levels from 1.5 to 2.9 mg/dL had a 0.7% mortality rate, whereas it was 17% for 23 patients with serum creatinine levels of 3 mg/dL or more (P <. 001). The stroke rate for the former group was 0.7% and 4.3% for the latter group (NS). Asymptomatic (16) and symptomatic (7) patients with serum creatinine levels of 3 mg/dL or more had mortality rates of 13% and 28%, respectively, with P = .6. Conclusion: The high mortality rate observed in patients with serum creatinine levels of 3 mg/dL or more after CEA calls for a nonoperative approach in the management of asymptomatic patients.