The Role of Carotid Artery Screening Before Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Background: The incidence of stroke is 2.1-5.2% in bypass surgery patients with a mortality of 0-38%. This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of significant carotid artery stenosis and its related risk factors in candidates for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: 1045 consecutive candidates for CABG underwent carotid artery Doppler examination in a prospective study. The relation of age, sex, smoking and diabetes as well as lipid profile and carotid stenosis was evaluated. Results: In 1045 CABG candidates with the mean age of 60 years, the prevalence of significant carotid stenosis ( > 60%) was 6.9%. In the patients who aged 65 years and older, significant stenosis was12.5%. Age of 50 years and above, female gender, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus are independent risk factors for significant carotid stenosis. Conclusion: Significant carotid stenosis has an earlier beginning in our study. Cost effectiveness studies are recommended for revising the previous screening protocols.