Could statins improve outcome after carotid endarterectomy?
An epidemiological study suggests that patients who are taking a statin at the time they undergo carotid endarterectomy may have a lower incidence of subsequent in-hospital adverse events. The authors reviewed the records of all 3,360 patients who had undergone the procedure in Western Canada in 2000 and 2001. They determined patients’ characteristics, including statin use before surgery, and recorded adverse cardio-vascular and cerebro-vascular events during hospital stay. Of the total group, 815 of 2,031 symptomatic and 665 of 1,252 asymptomatic patients were taking a statin at the time of admission. In-hospital adverse cardiac outcomes were not affected by statin use for either patient group, however symptomatic patients taking a statin had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality and ischaemic stroke or death. There was no significant difference in these outcomes for asymptomatic patients. The authors conclude that their results suggest a protective effect of statin therapy in patient
