[Experience of carotid endarterectomy in treating extracranial carotid artery stenosis: early and mid-term outcomes of 618 cases].

To evaluate the safety and early and late outcomes of carotid endarterectomy in treating extracranial carotid artery stenosis.From January 2010 to September 2014, 572 consecutive patients with carotid artery stenosis underwent 618 CEA operations. 470 patients were males and 102 patients were females. Their age range was 36-87 years old. Average age was 66 years old. Among these patients, symptomatic carotid artery stenosis is 58.2%, CEA high-risk patient is 26.9% and 35.6% patients combined contralateral carotid artery heavy stenosis or totally occlusion.All the operations were success. Overall, perioperative major adverse events (death/stroke/MI, MAEs) rates were 3.7%. The risk of MAEs was not associated with whether symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, CEA high-risk patients and the lesions of contralateral carotid artery or not. 511 patients were followed up for a mean period of 42 months. MAEs rate in follow-up period is 8.5% and restenosis rate is 3.3%. The results of Kaplan-Meier survival analysis show symptomatic carotid artery stenosis and CEA high-risk patients couldn't increase the risk of MAEs. However, heavy stenosis in contralateral carotid artery could increase the rate of death and stroke in the late follow-ups.CEA is a safety and effective method to treat extracranial carotid artery stenosis. The keys to prevent perioperative complications include a comprehensive evaluation of the patients' condition, an optional and personal surgical plan prior to the operations, and a dedicated management during the operations.