CAROTID SURGERY IN NORTHERN TASMANIA - A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW

A retrospective survey of 138 carotid endarterectomies performed in No rthern Tasmania over a 6 year period was conducted to identify risk fa ctors for postoperative neurological complications. A total of 80% of patients were operated on for transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) refera ble to stenosis of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA). A to tal of 77% of patients who were operated on had angiographic evidence of severe (over 80%) stenosis of the affected ICA. A combined postoper ative permanent neurological deficit and mortality rate of 5.8% was ac hieved. Severe stenosis of the contralateral internal carotid artery a nd preoperative symptomatic instability were associated with the devel opment of postoperative neurological complications.