62 CEA were performed from 2 to 280 hours from onset of symptoms (mean 34.2 Ϯ 50.2). No neurological mortality nor stroke recurrence was detected. NIHSS score decreased in all but 4 patients with no new ischemic lesions detected. Mean NIHSS score was 7.05 Ϯ 3.41 on admission and 3.11 Ϯ 3.62 at discharge in the whole group (p Ͻ 0.01). Among factors affecting NIHSS decrease NIHSS score on admission showed the strongest association with the highest decrease in the Ն8 NIHSS score group (NIHSS 4-7 mean 4.95 Ϯ 1.03 preoperatively vs 1.31 Ϯ 1.7 postoperatively, NIHSSՆ8 10.32 Ϯ 1.94 vs 4.03 Ϯ 3.67; p Ͻ 0.001).Conclusions: The presence of a major stroke, or a high NIHSS score, does not contraindicate early surgery. To date, guidelines recommend treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis within 2 weeks from onset of symptoms in order to minimize the recurrence of stroke. Our results suggest that minimizing the time for intervention not only reduces the risk of recurrence, but it can improve neurological outcome.
Abstracts 9Sor contrast. It also allows for sizing of balloons and stents and assessment of the hemodynamic effects of intervention.
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