Abstract:

Aim: A consensus was reached in the guidelines on the treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis in patients who will undergo surgery for coronary artery disease, but no definite consensus was reached in asymptomatic patients. We wanted to share our approach to these patients and our results. Material and Methods: Between January 2016 and January 2021, 40 asymptomatic patients with unilateral carotid artery stenosis greater than 70% (Group 1) who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and 40 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery but did not have carotid artery stenosis (Group 2) were compared in terms of cerebrovascular complications and surgical outcomes. All patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and carotid artery stenosis was not intervened. Results: The incidence of preoperative hypertension was higher in Group 1 patients (65% vs 32.5%, p=0.007). The number of coronary artery bypass surgery bypass grafts was higher in Group 1 patients compared to Group 2 patients (3.25ϻ0.58 vs 2.87ϻ0.68, p=0.010). No major cerebrovascular accident was encountered in any patient and no mortality occurred. Conclusion: We concluded that coronary artery surgery is safe in patients with coronary artery disease with asymptomatic unilateral carotid stenosis. In order to reach a definitive consensus on this issue, it would be beneficial to conduct multicenter prospective studies.

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