Effect of chronic renal insufficiency on outcomes of carotid endarterectomy.

Objective: Conflicting data exist regarding the effect of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) on carotid endarterectomy (CEA) outcomes. A large database was used to analyze the effect of CRI, defined by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as an independent risk factor of CEA.

Methods: Prospectively collected data regarding CEAs performed at 123 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers as part of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were retrospectively analyzed. Renal function was used to divide patients into three CRI groups: normal or mild (control; GFR >/=60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), moderate (GFR 30 to 59), and severe (GFR <30). Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to characterize risk factors and their associations with 30-day morbidity and mortality.

Results: Between Jan 1, 1996, and Dec 31, 2003, 22,080 patients underwent CEA. Patients missing creatinine levels, already dialysis-dependent, or in acute renal failure just before surgery were excluded. This left 20,899 available for analysis, of which 13,965 had a GFR of >/=60, 6,423 had a GFR of 30 to 59, and 511 had a GFR of <30. The incidence of neurologic complications did not differ significantly (control, 1.7%; moderate CRI, 1.9%; severe CRI, 2.7%). The moderate CRI group experienced significantly more cardiac events (1.7% vs 0.9% for controls, P < .001). This remained predictive in the multivariate model even adjusting for all other risk factors (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.3; P = .009). The moderate CRI group also had higher rates of pulmonary complications (2.1% vs 1.3% control; P < .001; AOR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.7; P = .031) but not 30-day mortality (P = .269). Those with severe CRI had a much higher mortality (3.1% vs 1.0% control, P < .001), which remained significant in the multivariate model (AOR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.8; P < .001).

Conclusion: Although impaired renal function does not independently increase the risk of neurologic or infectious complications, CRI is a significant negative independent risk factor in predicting other outcomes after CEA. Patients with moderate CRI (GFR, 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) are at increased risk for cardiac and pulmonary morbidity, but not death, and those with severe CRI (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) have a much higher operative mortality. Patients with CRI should be carefully evaluated before CEA to optimize existing cardiac and pulmonary disease. Understanding this increased risk may assist the surgeon in preoperative counseling and perioperative management.