[Cardiac events after carotid endarterectomy: long-term results].

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of late cardiac events in patients submitted to carotid endarterectomy (CEA), asymptomatic for coronary artery disease during the carotid surgical procedure.

Methods: During a period of 11 years, 162 patients (122 males, 40 females, mean age 68 +/- 12 years), asymptomatic for coronary artery disease and/or without sings of coronary artery disease at the cardiological screening, were submitted to CEA for symptomatic or severe (> or = 70%) carotid stenoses. Clinical follow-up was performed on 151 patients (93%), to identify the incidence of cardiac and neurological events and freedom from late death.