INDICATION AND RESULTS OF COMBINED CAROTI D ENDARTERECTOMY AND CABG

Between 1986 and September 1995 100 patients with carotid artery steno sis and coronary artery disease underwent combined carotid endarterect omy and CABG. The indications for carotid endarterctomy were transient neurological events in 38 patients and in 62 cases highgrade asymptom atic carotid artery stenosis. The surgical procedures were always perf ormed by a vascular and a cardiac surgical team. In all cases carotid endarterectomy was performed prior to CABG. 3 patients died during the in-hospital-postoperative period: 2 patients died on the first day af ter surgery because of cardiac failure, 1 on the 18th day because of p neumonia. 2 patients had postoperative transient neurological events. The results are similar to those of isolated single procedures. Thus c ombined surgery for severe carotid and coronary artery disease can be performed with low mortality and morbidity.