Halm et al identified risk factors associated with stroke or death in a patient undergoing carotid endarterectomy. This can help identify a patient who may benefit from closer monitoring or alternative therapy. The authors are from Mount Sinai School of Medicine the University of Albany, and New York University.
Parameters:
(1) indication for the carotid endarterectomy
(2) coronary artery disease
(3) stenosis in the contralateral carotid artery
(4) anesthesia for the procedure
(5) type of closure
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
indication for carotid endartectomy |
stroke |
1 |
|
other |
0 |
coronary artery disease |
none |
0 |
|
inactive |
0 |
|
active |
1 |
stenosis of the contralateral carotid artery |
<= 50% |
0 |
|
> 50% |
1 |
anesthesia |
general |
1 |
|
local |
0 |
type of closure |
patch graft or eversion |
0 |
|
primary |
1 |
where:
• Active coronary artery consists of either unstable angina or angina with ordinary or minimal activity during the past 12 months.
• The odds ratio for local anesthesia and patch graft closure were 0.30 and 0.43 respectively. Rather than using negative numbers in the score I gave points to the reference method.
total number of risk factors =
= SUM(points for all 5 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 5
• The higher the score the greater the risk for stroke and/or death.
Specialty: Neurology
ICD-10: ,