Case-matched comparison of early and long-term outcomes of everted cervical vein and saphenous vein carotid patch angioplasty.

Abstract

To compare outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with saphenous vein patch closure (SV), with cervical vein (external jugular and common facial) patch closure (CV). A total of 322 cases of CEA was achieved consecutively by using venous patch angioplasty. Propensity scores were calculated followed by a one-to-one basis case-matching. This resulted into 90 SV and 90 CV matched cases. The primary endpoint was the incidence of ipsilateral stroke and transient ischaemic attack at any time during follow-up. Ten-year freedom from stroke was 94.1% ± 3.5% for the SV group and 90.5% ± 4.2% for the CV group (log rank P = 0.230). Ten-year freedom from ipsilateral neurological events (stroke and transient ischaemic attack) was 93.5% ± 3.3% for SV group and 92.4% ± 3.0% for the CV group (log rank P = 0.403). Ten-year freedom from ≥75% stenosis/occlusion was 93.1 ± 4.8% for the SV group and 89.9 ± 6.0% for the CV group (log rank P = 0.481). CV is a good alternative to SV patching, particularly when the SV needs to be preserved for further use or is unsuitable.