Letter to the Editor

Article Outline

• Copyright

In Response:

We agree with the observations raised by Dr. Cohen above. In agreement with a few previous articles, our findings only demonstrate that patients who undergo carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic left internal carotid disease have a higher risk of cognitive decline than patients operated on for asymptomatic left internal carotid artery disease or for right internal carotid disease.

Therefore, our findings only suggest the need for prospective studies specifically addressed to evaluate this issue but, at the moment, do not consent to draw any conclusions about potential benefit from a different timing for carotid endarterectomy in these patients. A further review of our data, with more cautious conclusions, has been prepared and will be submitted.