Completion imaging after carotid endarterectomy in the Vascular Study Group of New England

The use of completion imaging during CEA varies widely across our region. There is little evidence that surgeons who use completion imaging have lower rates of 30-day stroke/death, although selective use of completion imaging is associated with a small but a significant reduction in stenosis 1 year after surgery. We also demonstrate an association between re-exploration and higher risk of 30-day stroke/death, although this effect was attenuated after adjustment for patient-level predictors of stroke/death. Future work is needed to direct the selective use of completion imaging to prevent stroke, rather than cause unnecessary re-exploration.