Surgical intervention among asymptomatic patients aged ≥80 with a contralateral carotid occlusion appears selectively warranted.

objectiveThe role of prophylactic carotid revascularization in asymptomatic patients aged ≥80 remains controversial. Current guidelines stipulate that asymptomatic older patients at "higher risk of stroke" on best medical therapy may still benefit from carotid intervention. Specifically, there is a widespread perception that a contralateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion may confer an increased anatomical stroke risk, thus creating a surgical dilemma, particularly among older patients. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether asymptomatic patients aged ≥80 years derive a stroke or survival benefit from prophylactic carotid revascularization in the setting of a contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion.

methodsWe analyzed asymptomatic patients with a contralateral occlusion who underwent carotid endarterectomy or transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) using the Vascular Quality Initiative database. Our primary exposure was age (<80 years vs ≥ 80 years). Primary outcomes included 30-day stroke, 30-day mortality, and 5-year survival. Logistic regression, Cox regression, and propensity score matching were used for risk adjustment.

resultsWe identified a total of 3486 asymptomatic patients who underwent carotid surgery (carotid endarterectomy, 72.0%; TCAR, 28.0%) in the setting of a contralateral carotid occlusion, 14.7% were aged ≥80 years, 29.5% were female, and 91.1% were White. Older patients had overall similar comorbidities compared with younger patients, but were more likely to undergo TCAR (<80 years, 26.7% vs ≥ 80 years, 35.2%). The unadjusted 30-day stroke risk was similar between age groups (<80 years 2.2%, vs ≥80 years, 1.0%; P = .26); however, mortality was two-fold higher among patients aged ≥80 years (<80 years, 0.9% vs ≥ 80 years, 2.3%; P = .04). The unadjusted risk of 30-day stroke or death was 2.9% for patients aged <80 years and 4.0% for those ≥80 years (P = .34). Propensity score matching yielded 511 matched pairs. The composite end point of stroke or death in the matched cohort was 4.6% for patients <80 years and 4.0% for those ≥80 years (P = .73). The 18-month stroke-free survival was 81.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 76%-87%) in patients <80 years and 78.0% (95% CI, 73%-84%) in those ≥80-years (log-rank P value = .4;). The 5-year survival rates was similar between groups (<80 years, 84.6% [95% CI, 80.2%-89.3%], ≥80 years, 80.8% [95% CI, 76.2%-85.8%]; log-rank P = .4).

conclusionsPerioperative outcomes in asymptomatic patients aged ≥80 years with a contralateral ICA occlusion were similar to those in patients aged <80 years, validating the rationale to consider surgery in eligible older patients at elevated stroke risk. Notably, both younger and older patients experienced composite perioperative stroke or death rates exceeding the current Society for Vascular Surgery safety benchmark of 3% in asymptomatic patients. Therefore, based on these results, carotid intervention should be selectively applied in patients aged ≥80 years within this high-risk subgroup.