Neurobehavioral effects of carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE Nineteen patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (>70%) were subjected to carotid endarterectomy in a prospective study to evaluate neurobehavioral changes before and 6 months following the operation. METHODS All patients were subjected to neurobehavioral rating scale one week before and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS There were no significant changes in the 27 items of this scale before and 6 months following the operation. Some patients showed no difference at all in some items of this scale before and after operation such as suspiciousness excitement, speech and articulation using Mann-Whitney rank test, P values were (> 0.05) as regards to all items of neurobehavioral rating scale. CONCLUSION Uncomplicated carotid endarterectomy does not seem to be associated with significant long time neurobehavioral impairment following the operation.