Endarterectomy for Stenosis of Less Than 50% With Symptoms

Research shows that endarterectomy is not more effective than treatment with medicine for people who have symptoms, such as a previous TIA or mild stroke, but less than 50% stenosis (narrowing).^{Reference 1} In some cases surgery may be harmful—the procedure itself may result in more problems than benefits. The American Heart Association guidelines recommend that these people continue treatment with medicine.^{Reference 2}

Citations

1. North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial Collaborators (1991). Beneficial effect of carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients with high-grade carotid stenosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 325(7): 445–453.

2. Biller J, et al. (1998). Guidelines for carotid endarterectomy: A statement for healthcare professionals from a special writing group of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association. Circulation, 97(5): 501–509.

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