An Observational Registry of Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Artery Stenting in Brazil: Study Protocol

Carotid endarterectomy for symptomic and asymptomic stenosis: Report of 65388 cases (Russian register)

AIM

Analysis of in-hospital and long-term results of carotid endarterectomy in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic stenoses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sample was formed by completely including all cases of carotid endarterectomy (n = 65,388) performed during the period from May 1, 2015 to November 1, 2023. Depending on the symptomatic/asymptomatic nature of the stenosis, all patients were divided into two groups: group 1 - n = 39,172 (75.2%) - patients with asymptomatic stenosis; Group 2 - n = 26216 (24.8%) - patients with symptomatic stenosis. The postoperative follow-up period was 53.5 ± 31.4 months.

RESULTS

In the hospital postoperative period, the groups were comparable in the incidence of death (group 1: n = 164 (0.41%); group 2: n = 124 (0.47%); p = .3), transient ischemic attack (group 1: n = 116 (0.29%); group 2: n = 88 (0.33%); p = .37), myocardial infarction (group 1: n = 32 (0.08%); group 2: n = 19 (0.07%); p = .68), thrombosis of the internal carotid artery (group 1: n = 8 (0.02%); group 2: n = 2 (0.007%); p = 0, 19), bleeding (group 1: n = 58 (0.14%); group 2: n = 33 (0.12%); p = .45). In group 2, ischemic stroke developed statistically more often (group 1: n = 328 (0.83%); group 2: n = 286 (1.09%); p = .001), which led to a higher value of the combined endpoint (group 1: n = 640 (1.63%); group 2: n = 517 (1.97%); p = .001). In the long-term postoperative period, the groups were comparable in cases of death (group 1: n = 65 (0.16%); group 2: n = 41 (0.15%); p = .76) and death from cardiovascular causes (group 1: n = 59 (0.15%); group 2: n = 33 (0.12%); p = .4). A greater number of ischemic strokes were detected in patients of group 2 (group 1: n = 213 (0.54%); group 2: n = 187 (0.71%); p = .006). In group 1, hemodynamically significant restenosis (≥70%) of the internal carotid artery was more often diagnosed (group 1: n = 974 (2.49%); group 2: n = 351 (1.34%); p < .0001) and myocardial infarction (group 1: n = 66 (0.16%); group 2: n = 34 (0.13%); p < .0001). When analyzing stroke-free survival, analysis of Kaplan-Meier curves showed that a statistically larger number of strokes were diagnosed in group 2 (p < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Due to the fact that the patients were initially not comparable for a number of indicators, to achieve balance, we applied propensity score matching analysis. Thus, group 1 consisted of 24,381 patients, and group 2 consisted of 17,219 patients. In the hospital postoperative period, statistically significant differences were obtained only in the combined end point, which was greater in group 2 (group 1: n = 465 (1.9%); group 2: n = 382 (2.2%); p = .02). In the long-term follow-up period, after applying propensity score matching, no statistically significant differences were obtained between groups.

Short-term outcomes of transfemoral carotid artery stenting and carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients: data from a multicentric prospective registry in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TF-CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are alternative strategies for stroke prevention in patients with atherosclerotic carotid disease. Since their main objective is to prevent future ischemic events, regular reassessment of the outcomes is mandatory for providing the best therapy.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to describe the practice and the outcomes of TF-CAS and CEA in symptomatic patients in public university hospitals in Brazil, using data from a prospective multicentric registry.

METHODS

Prospective 8-year observational study of patients with symptomatic carotid artery atherosclerotic disease that underwent TF-CAS and CEA in five public university hospitals affiliated with the RHEUNI (Registry Project of Vascular Disease in the Public University Hospitals of São Paulo). All consecutive procedures were included. The indications for the procedures were determined by each surgeon's individual discretion, in accordance with a preoperative risk evaluation. The outcome measures were any 30-day follow-up death, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and their combined outcome (major adverse cardiovascular events - MACE). The registration of the study was made at clinicaltrials.gov NCT02538276.

RESULTS

From January 2012 through December 2019, 376 consecutive and symptomatic patients were included in the study records. There were 152 TF-CAS procedures (40.4%) and 224 CEA procedures (59.5%). All completed the 30-day follow-up period. Occurrence of death (TR-CAS: 0.66% x CEA: 0.66%, P=0.99), stroke (TF-CAS: 4.61% x CEA: 4.46%, P=0.99), and MI (TF-CAS: 0.66% x CEA: 0%, P=0.403) was similar in both groups, without statistically significant differences. MACE rate did not differ in both groups (TF-CAS: 5.92% x CEA: 4.46%, P=0.633).

CONCLUSIONS

Data from a prospective registry of five Brazilian university hospitals showed that transfemoral carotid artery stenting and carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients had similar 30-day perioperative rates of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction and their combination.