A direct comparison of early and late outcomes with three approaches to carotid revascularization and open heart surgery.

Significant carotid artery disease is not uncommon in patients undergoing open heart surgery (OHS). Whether to treat both conditions in a staged or combined procedure remains an unresolved matter. In this retrospective study, the authors compared outcomes in three groups of patients according to treatment strategies: staged carotid endarterectomy (CEA) followed by OHS (CEA-OHS), combined CEA-OHS (i.e. concomitant CEA and OHS under a single anesthesia), and staged carotid stenting (CAS) followed by OHS (CAS-OHS) No significant difference in the primary composit endpoint(all-cause death, stroke, and myocardial infarction) was found between staged CAS-OHS and combined CEA-OHS in the short term. However, beyond 12 months, the staged CAS-OHS option appears to be a better choice. Staged CEA-OHS has the highest risk during both early and late phases. These findings were consistent regardless of multiple adjustments using propensity score and propensity matching.