Carotid endarterectomy on antiplatelet agents in the era of point-of-care testing

Abstract Objective The safety of carotid endarterectomy in patients with a response to antiplatelet agents (aspirin and clopidogrel) confirmed by point-of-care testing is unknown. Thus, we sought t o determine whether using point-of-care assessment of platelet inhibition reveals risk factors for operative complications or predicts clinical outcomes. Methods We reviewed records of carotid endarterectomy patients treated from March 2013 to July 2015 to extract demographics, lesion characteristics, laboratory data, procedural complications, and follow-up. Administration of aspirin, clopidogrel, or therapeutic anticoagulation within 5 days before surgery was recorded. Results We analyzed 79 patients with 86 lesions (mean age 70.9±10.0 years). More patients with a P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU)