Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Does Not Increase the Risk of Bleeding After Carotid Endarterectomy: Results of a Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of bleeding and other postoperative complications of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

Methods: From January 2005 to December 2015, 188 consecutive patients undergoing CEA and receiving DAPT (aspirin 100 mg + clopidogrel 75 mg) were enrolled in a prospective study. All of them underwent coronary artery stenting with drug-eluting stents during the 6 months preceding CEA. In the entire series, DAPT was continued until the evening before CEA and resumed on the evening of the operation. All patients received intraoperative heparinization (5,000 IU before carotid clamping), which was reversed in 5 patients. In addition, all of them were given 2,000 units of enoxaparin every 12 hr after the operation, beginning 6 hr after completion of the operation, and until discharge. All the patients presented with carotid artery stenosis >70% (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial [NASCET] criteria), which was symptomatic in 42 patients (transient ischemic attack, n = 32; minor stroke, n = 10) and asymptomatic in 146. The CEA technique was standard, with prosthetic patch closure in 109 cases (58%) and eversion in 79 (42%). The primary endpoints of the study were occurrence of a postoperative cervical hematoma requiring surgical hemostasis and occurrence of cranial nerve injuries. The secondary endpoint was the combined rate of postoperative mortality, stroke, and myocardial ischemia.

Results: No postoperative cervical hematoma requiring surgical evacuation occurred in this series. One hypoglossal nerve palsy, regressive within 2 weeks, was observed. Postoperative mortality and neurologic and cardiac morbidity were nil.

Conclusions: CEA under DAPT yields results comparable with those obtained in patients receiving a single antiplatelet treatment. No hemorrhagic complications were observed in this prospective series.