What are the most serious perioperative complications?

What are the most serious perioperative complications?

The most serious perioperative complications of carotid surgery are neurologic or cardiac. Neurologic complica-tions include cerebral infarction, transient ischemia, and cognitive dysfunction. Ischemic cerebral injury may result from embolization of thrombus or air during surgical manipulation. It may also result from decreased cerebral perfusion during temporary carotid artery occlusion during surgery. Arterial stenosis or occlusion after CEA may also produce an ischemic insult. A stroke-related morbidity of 2–3% for CEA is considered acceptable.

Patients with atherosclerotic disease of the carotid arteries often also have similar pathology of the coronary vessels. A perioperative incidence of myocardial infarction of 5% is considered acceptable.