Factors contributing to recurrent carotid disease following carotid endarterectomy.

Background: Retrospective analysis was performed to assess the effect of gender, age, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking upon residual disease, recurrent disease, and progression of disease following carotid endarterectomy (CE). The effect of patch versus primary closure was also studied.

Methods: Postoperative duplex studies were performed following 323 CEs at months 1, 6, 12, and 24.