ROLE OF COMPLETION ANGIOSCOPY IN DETECTING TECHNICAL ERROR AFTER CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY

Completion fibreoptic angioscopy was performed in 30 consecutive patie nts after carotid endarterectomy. The aim was to evaluate the potentia l role of angioscopy as a quality-control technique. Major abnormaliti es (two intimal flaps, two large thrombi) were identified in four pati ents and minor adherent thrombus was encountered in five. All abnormal ities were corrected before restoration of flow. This preliminary expe rience suggests that completion angioscopy merits further study as a m ethod for the intraoperative detection of potentially harmful lesions after carotid endarterectomy.