Epidemiology of Carotid Endarterectomy Among Medicare Beneficiaries

• DOI: 10.1161/01.str.29.2.346
• Publication Date: 2011-06-17T20:10:52Z
• Authors: David C. Hsia; Linda M. Moscoe; W. Mark Krushat
• Keywords: Stroke; Endarterectomy

This article describes changes in the rate and outcome of carotid endarterectomies among Medicare beneficiaries.We analyzed International Classification Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes as shown on bills to calculate endarterectomy frequency, rate, perioperative mortality by patient demography hospital characteristics.After initially peaking at 61273 procedures (20.6 per 10000 beneficiaries) 1985, frequency beneficiaries declined 46571 (14.3 10000) 1989 then rose 108275 (28.6 1996. Patients were predominantly aged 65 74 years, male, white; surgery occurred mainly large, urban, nonprofit, teaching hospitals. Perioperative from 3.0% 1985 1.6% 1996.The showed prompt response reports clinical trials. both improved converged over time but did not attain rates reported 85+ years suffered twice average mortality.