Midt-Term Results after Fast-Track Prophylactic Carotid Surgery Program: The Risk of Overlooking Occult Cancer.

Background: Most guidelines recommend fast-track carotid endarterectomy (CEA) within 14 days of the last ischemic event. Long-term survival after fast-track CEA is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the fast-track CEA program in our region was associated with a reduced or increased 2-year survival and overall complication rate in our population.

Methods: Prospective 2-year follow-up in patients after the implementation of a fast-track CEA program during a period of 3½ years. Data on recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and death in a 2-year period after CEA were collected along with the indication for surgery and the time from ischemic event to the operation.

Results: Two hundred patients underwent CEA. The overall complication rate for 30 days was 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2%-5%) and 15.5% (95% CI, 13%-18%) for 2 years. During the 2-year follow-up 17 patients (8.5%; 95% CI, 7%-10%) died. Eight patients (4%; 95% CI, 2%-6%) died of advanced cancer (undiagnosed at the index event and CEA time). Of the 6 deaths occurring in patients undergoing CEA 14 days after the index event or earlier, 5 patients (83%; 95% CI, 55%-95%) died of advanced cancer. In the 11 deaths in patients who underwent CEA more than 14 days after the index event, 3 patients (27%; 95% CI, 5%-50%) died of cancer. This was a statistically significant difference (P = .049).

Conclusion: Fast-track CEA is a safe procedure in selected patients. Our results show a potential significant risk of overlooking occult cancer, which may affect the long-term benefit from prophylactic CEA.