Recent research indicates that it is now possible to deal simultaneously with blockages in the major neck artery as well as in coronary arteries.
Blockages in the carotid artery in the neck, which increase the risk of having a stroke, can be opened by inserting a stent, and blocked coronary arteries, which increase the risk of having a heart attack, can be bypassed with a graft or stented. When both conditions exist, however, the dilemma is which should be dealt with first, as the untreated condition makes the procedure for the other condition more dangerous.
Researchers from Rome evaluated the feasibility of performing carotid artery stenting almost simultaneously with coronary artery bypass grafting in 101 patients with severe carotid and coronary disease. The carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedure was performed under local anaesthesia, and then the patients were transferred directly to the operating for the coronary bypass operation.
The dual operation was successfully performed in 98 percent of the cases. The 'adverse event' rate was reasonable considering the poor state of health of the patients: two patients died in the postoperative period, and two had a stroke between carotid stenting and the coronary bypass operation.
The findings indicate that those suffering from coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease could benefit from simultaneously performed artery stenting and coronary artery bypass.
Blockages in the carotid artery in the neck, which increase the risk of having a stroke, can be opened by inserting a stent, and blocked coronary arteries, which increase the risk of having a heart attack, can be bypassed with a graft or stented. When both conditions exist, however, the dilemma is which should be dealt with first, as the untreated condition makes the procedure for the other condition more dangerous.
Researchers from Rome evaluated the feasibility of performing carotid artery stenting almost simultaneously with coronary artery bypass grafting in 101 patients with severe carotid and coronary disease. The carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedure was performed under local anaesthesia, and then the patients were transferred directly to the operating for the coronary bypass operation.
The dual operation was successfully performed in 98 percent of the cases. The 'adverse event' rate was reasonable considering the poor state of health of the patients: two patients died in the postoperative period, and two had a stroke between carotid stenting and the coronary bypass operation.
The findings indicate that those suffering from coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease could benefit from simultaneously performed artery stenting and coronary artery bypass.