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News - Cape Fear Valley Health System, Fayetteville North Carolina USA |
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| Cape Fear Valley Health System |
| Age Shouldn't Preclude Stroke Surgery |
| Date : - 12/10/2008 |
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Just because a person is over 80 doesn't mean they wouldn't benefit from a surgery designed to prevent strokes. (Read about "Stroke") New research published in the 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. (Read about "Medical Procedures")
Approximately 700,000 strokes occur annually in the United States, and it is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of them are related to carotid artery disease. (Read about "Arteriosclerosis & Atherosclerosis")
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. "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 study analyzed the outcomes of 103 carotid endarterectomies in 95 patients between the ages of 80 and 94 years. There were 59 men and 36 women. It showed a low incidence of neurologic complications, with only one transient ischemic attack, two minor strokes and one major stroke. There were no deaths within 30 days of operation.
Note: Statements and conclusions of study authors that are published here are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect this hospital's policy or position. This hospital makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
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| Reference : - www.capefearvalley.com |
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