ABSTRACT
The benefits of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) over the medical treatment of patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis have been confirmed by randomized, prospective clinical trials (1, 2). However, the advantage of surgical therapy is achieved only if the complications of carotid surgery are maintained at an extremely low level. Particularly in asymptomatic patients, in whom the margin of benefit in stroke prevention is less remarkable, reducing the incidence of post-CEA complications is critical. The most commonly discussed and analyzed complication of CEA is, of course, stroke. However, a variety of other complications can occur and can cause considerable morbidity in both the short and long term. This chapter reviews the nonstroke complications that can compromise the outcome of CEA.
