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Abstract
Objective
Management of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS), including carotid endarterectomy
(CEA), carotid artery stenting (CAS), and best medical treatment (BMT), remains inconsistent
in current practice. Early studies reported a benefit of CEA vs. BMT; however, the current risk–benefit profile of invasive therapy lacks consensus.
By evaluating the effects of modern BMT vs. invasive intervention on patient outcomes, this study aimed to influence the future
management of ACAS.
Methods
A systematic review and series of network meta-analyses were performed assessing peri-operative
(within 30 days) and long term (30 days – 5 years) stroke and mortality risk between
ACAS interventions. Total stroke, major, minor, ipsilateral, and contralateral stroke
subtypes were assessed independently. Traditional (pre-2000) and modern (post-2000)
BMT were compared to assess clinical improvements in medical therapy over the previous
two decades. Risks of myocardial infarction (MI) and cranial nerve injury (CNI) were
also assessed.
Results
Seventeen reports of 14 310 patients with > 50% ACAS were included. CEA reduced the
odds of a peri-operative stroke event occurring vs. CAS (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 – 2.2 [0 – 20 fewer/1
000]). CEA and CAS reduced the long term odds of minor strokes (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.21
– 0.59 [20 fewer/1 000]) and ipsilateral strokes (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.19 – 0.39 [30
fewer/1 000]) vs. all BMT. CEA reduced the odds of major strokes and combined stroke and mortality
vs. traditional BMT; however, no difference was found between CEA and modern BMT. CAS
reduced the odds of peri-operative MI (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0. 26 – 0.91) and CNI (OR 0.07,
95% CI 0.01 – 0.42) vs. CEA.
Conclusion
Modern BMT demonstrates similar reductions in major stroke, combined stroke, and mortality
to CEA. The overall risk reductions are low and data were unavailable to assess subgroups
which may benefit from intervention. However, BMT carries the potential to reduce
the requirement for surgical intervention in patients with ACAS.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 11,
2023
Received in revised form:
December 2,
2022
Received:
May 14,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
