"Preoperative Carotid Artery Evaluation in 1045 Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery"

Backgrounds/Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of significant carotid artery stenosis and its determining factors in candidates of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Patients and Methods: 1045 consecutive CABG candidates underwent carotid artery Doppler examination in a cross sectional study. The relation of age, gender, history of smoking and diabetes, as well as lipid profile to significant carotid stenosis was evaluated. Results: In study subjects, mean age of 60.57±9.3 years, the prevalence of significant carotid stenosis (>60%) was 6.9%. In subjects older than 65 years the significant stenosis tolled to 12.5%. Over 50 years of age, female gender, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes were independent determining factors for significant carotid stenosis. Conclusion: Significant carotid stenosis has significantly higher prevalence among patients over 50 years of age. Cost benefit studies are recommended to revise the current evaluation protocols.