THE CLINICAL-VALUE OF DUPLEX SURVEILLANCE FOLLOWING INTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY RECONSTRUCTION

Background. The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the benefit of a yearly duplex ultrasonography of both the reconstruc ted and the contralateral internal carotid artery (ICA). Methods. From 1985 to 1994, 1210 unilateral, primary ICA reconstructions were perfo rmed. Although these patients received yearly invitations, duplex foll ow-up was not available in 114 patients (9%). Results. At 5 years a st enosis of 50% or more was found in 9% and at 10 years in 14% of patien ts. During the follow-up period 20 patients developed a stenosis of 80 -99%. Ten patients had a redo-procedure. The others remained asymptoma tic, even though one patient developed an occlusion. A stroke occurred in 96 patients. 58 of these had no significant stenoses. 57% of all p atients had no significant contralateral lesion at the time of the fir st procedure. In only 4% of these a contralateral CAE was performed du ring the follow-up. Conclusions. In view of the above data, we would c onclude that the clinical benefit of duplex surveillance is doubtful.