Long-Term Performance of the Bovine Pericardium Patch in Conventional Carotid Endarterectomy

Objective The aim of the study was to analyze long-term results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) using bovine pericardium patch. Patients and Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of 274 consecutive cases (173 in CEA group and 101 patients in an internal control group of eversion endarterectomy [EEA]) operated between January 2005 and May 2007. Operations were performed according to standard surgical technique. Primary endpoints of the study were 30-day mortality, ipsilateral neurologic event rate, and high-grade restenosis in the long-term follow-up. Results No statistically significance between both groups was found in terms of gender, age, risk factors, medication (statine, platelet inhibition), and incidence of symptomatic stenoses (50.9 vs. 50.5%, n.s.). Early mortality was 0% for EEA and 1% for CEA (nonsignificant [n.s.]) and neurologic event rate (transitory ischemic attack [TIA] + stroke) was 4 versus 4% (n.s.), respectively. After 5 years of follow-up (mean 81 months for CEA and 73 months for EEA), the rate of severe (> 70%) restenosis was 2.9% for EEA and 2.7% for CEA (p =0.729). Conclusion Bovine pericardium patch yielded promising results with regard to mortality, perioperative neurologic event rate (TA, stroke), and occurrence of severe restenosis after 5 years of follow-up.