Surgery to Prevent Strokes in Patients Age 80 and
Older Now Considered Safe
As elderly population surges, its crucial to
identify ways to limit the devastating strokes
Oct.
10, 2008 - New research published in the October issue of Journal of the
American College of Surgeons challenges the current opinion that
patients in their eighties, who are often deemed "high-risk" due to
their advanced age, should not undergo carotid endarterectomy a
stroke-preventing surgical procedure that clears blockages from the
neck's carotid arteries.
Approximately 700,000 new and recurrent strokes
occur annually in the United States, and it is estimated that 10 to 20
percent of them are related to carotid artery disease.
Several clinical trials have suggested that carotid
endarterectomy can be used to safely and effectively prevent strokes in
patients younger than 80 years of age. However, because of the
perception that patients in their eighties and nineties are at increased
risk, clinicians have recommended that these patients receive
alternative treatments such as stenting.
"Age alone should not place patients in the
high-risk category for carotid endarterectomy," said study authors
Steven Katz, MD, FACS, and Amy Bremner, MD, of the Huntington Hospital,
Pasadena, CA, and the Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
"As the elderly population surges, it is crucial to
identify strategies that can potentially limit the devastating
consequences of stroke and its impact on the health care budget.
Our study shows that carotid endarterectomy remains
the treatment of choice in patients 80 years of age and older with
substantial blockage of the carotid arteries."
The retrospective study, which analyzed the
outcomes of 103 carotid endarterectomies in 95 patients between the ages
of 80 and 94 years (59 men and 36 women; mean age = 83.7 years), showed
a low incidence of neurologic complications, with only one transient
ischemic attack (0.97 percent), two minor strokes (1.94 percent) and one
major stroke (0.97 percent).
There were no deaths within 30 days of operation.
The combined stroke and death rate was 2.91 percent.
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific
and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to
raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the
surgical patient.
The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent
practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the
course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an
important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than
73,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
For more information, visit
www.facs.org.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Oct.
10, 2008 - New research published in the October issue of Journal of the
American College of Surgeons challenges the current opinion that
patients in their eighties, who are often deemed "high-risk" due to
their advanced age, should not undergo carotid endarterectomy a
stroke-preventing surgical procedure that clears blockages from the
neck's carotid arteries.