Am. Graham et al., CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY IN A VASCULAR FELLOWSHIP TRAINING-PROGRAM - GOOD RESULTS WITH A CONSISTENT TECHNIQUE, CAN J SURG, 38(1), 1995, pp. 39-41
Objective: To find out whether carotid endarterectomy performed by sen
ior residents or vascular fellows in a vascular fellowship program wit
h a uniform technical approach can give results equal to or better tha
n the acceptable standard. Design: A case study with follow-up ranging
from 121 to 1369 days. Setting: A university teaching hospital. Patie
nts: Two hundred and one consecutive patients operated on between May
1989 and June 1993. Interventions: Isolated carotid endarterectomy. Ma
in Outcome Measures: Neurologic findings, cardiovascular complications
and local wound problems after carotid endarterectomy. Results: There
were no deaths, one permanent stroke and two significant deficits fro
m which the patients fully recovered. Conclusions: Carotid endarterect
omy can be performed by senior surgical residents and vascular fellows
within a vascular fellowship program, with a perioperative stroke and
death rate of less than 1% when a uniform approach is used.