There are still controversies about the treatment of associated coronary artery disease and carotid artery obstruction. Between 1979 and 1994, 10940 patients were operated on for myocardial revascularization. Combined operations (myocardial revascularization and carotid endarterectomy) were done in 46 (0.43%) patients, during the same period. Patients age ranged from 48 to 76 years with an average of 65.2 yrs; 80.4% were male; 23 had had previous myocardial infarction. Associated diseases were diabetes mellitus in 10 patients, chronic renal insufficiency in 5; 29 were in functional class 111 or IV for angina; 4 patients had congestive cardiac insufficiency: left main carotid obstruction, and in 4 of them one carotid artery was completaly obstructed; 23 patients had had transient cerebral ischemic attack and 2 had had stroke with sequelae. Hospital mortality was 8.6% (4/46). Permanent stroke did not occur in the operative period; 3 of the 4 deaths occurred in patients 70 years or older. Carotid endarterectomy was done just before cardiopulmonary bypass in 42 patients and in 4 patients with one of the carotid arteries occluded, done after cardiopulmonary bypass was established and the patient temperature was 25ºC. Considering that no patient had perioperative stroke, we think that this strategy is adequate for this association of diseases.
Myocardial revascularization; Carotid artery