Carotid Endarterectomy is often not Possible after an Unheralded Stroke: Unheralded Stroke in Carotid Artery Stenosis

Objectives: The ongoing literature recommends carotid endarterectomy (CEA) primarily for patients with neurological symptoms, however CEA can be precluded by the onset of a severe stroke or a total carotid occlusion. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of unheralded strokes in patients with a previously asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) possibly considered for CEA. Materials and Methods: From 2009 to 2019, patients with an unheralded stroke from an ACS were considered. By neurological examination, patients were divided in unfit-for-CEA (uCEA) – either for the severity of the stroke (according to modified Rankin-Scale – mRS) or the onset of a total carotid occlusion – and patients submitted to CEA. Predictors for uCEA and stroke severity were evaluated. Results: Over a total of 532 patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis, 277 (52%) with unheralded stroke were included in the study. One hundred and one (36%) were considered uCEA: 64(23%) due to their neurological conditions (mRS:5) and 37 (13%) because of the onset of carotid occlusion. One hundred seventy-six (64%) patients underwent CEA. The preoperative medical therapy was similar in uCEA vs CEA patients. Age≥80 years and female sex were independently associated with uCEA (OR:5.9, 95%CI:3.1–11.4, P<.01; OR:3.9, 95%CI:2.0–7.6, P<.01. respectively). Patients submitted to CEA had mRS: 0–2 in 102(37%) cases and mRS:3–4 in 74 (27%). The contralateral carotid occlusion (CCO) was independently associated with mRS:3–4 (OR:8.4, 95%CI 1.8–79, P=.01). Postoperative stroke rate after CEA was 2.9% (4/167); patients with preoperative mRS:3–4 had a higher risk for postoperative stroke compared to those with mRS:0–2 (5.9% vs. 0%. P=.02). Conclusions: An unheralded stroke in patients with ACS leads to a severe neurological damage in more than half of cases, either precluding CEA (36%) or increasing the risk of postoperative complications (27%). Female sex, age≥80 and CCO are independent predictors of these occurrences and should be considered in ACS patients.