Invited Commentary

Antiplatelet and statin therapy have become routine agents in the medical armamentarium for patients with carotid artery stenosis, supported by results from multiple randomized controlled trials showing lower rates of stroke associated with use of these agents.[1] Moreover, patients taking these medical agents have been found to have lower rates of stroke and mortality following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in several prior observational studies.[2, 3] As such, antiplatelet and statin therapy is considered standard of care for patients with carotid artery stenosis before and after CEA, and recommended by all practice guidelines developed for the management of carotid disease including those supported by the Society of Vascular Surgery and the Vascular Quality Initiative.
Source: Annals of Vascular Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Source Type: research