Carotid endarterectomy in young adults.

The results of carotid endarterectomy in 521 patients were analyzed to verify whether the early and late outcome in young patients is worse than in older patients, such as the results observed in peripheral arterial reconstruction in young adults. The patients were subdivided into 3 groups: 105 under 55 years, 397 aged between 56 and 74 years and 19 over 75 years. Young patients presented less risk factors and associated diseases than older ones, with the exception of smoking-habit; on the other hand, they presented a higher incidence of early post-operative thrombosis, myocardial infarction and of recurrent stenosis at follow-up. This trend has already been observed in other series. Young age and smoking habit have also been significantly related with recurrent carotid stenosis. In spite of these complications, carotid endarterectomy is indicated in severe stenosis or complicated carotid plaques, in young adults, because of a low operative mortality and a better trend in the follow-up period; however, the pre-operative evaluation needs a more accurate study and, when possible, the normalization of metabolic risk factors and the elimination of smoking.