ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Chirurgia 2000 June;13(3):155-8

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Intimal hyperplasia: a late complication in carotid artery lesions surgery

Rampoldi V., Tolva V., Trimarchi S., Mezzetti R.

Background. Carotid stenosis after carotid endarterectomy is a relatively frequent phenomenon, linked to intimal and adventitial cicatrisation processes.
Methods. Slight restenosis is part of the normal postoperative healing process in many patients. More severe restenoses, between 40-50%, are found in 10-20% of operated patients. Even in these cases, restenosis should be regarded as a benign form with no hemodynamic significance. Carotid restenoses are symptomatic in 5% of cases.
Results. The long-term follow-up shows that the process develops rapidly during the early postoperative period and at all events within two months of surgery.
Conclusions. This type of lesion is manly found in females (68%) and is primarily linked to hypercholesterolemia and smoking.