Comparison of short-term clinical postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy: Intensive care unit versus the ward high-dependency unit

The objective of this research was to examine the routine postoperative management of patients who have undergonecarotid endarterectomy and compare the intensive care unit (ICU) with the ward high-dependency unit (HDU) in termsof the number, type, severity, or management of postoperative clinical events within a 48-hour time frame. Two of thevascular surgeons routinely admitted patients to the ICU, and 1 vascular surgeon routinely admitted patients to the wardHDU. This research determines whether there was a difference in outcomes between the 2 groups with the intention ofchanging the practice of the 2 vascular surgeons who routinely admitted their patients to the ICU. This was anonexperimental, descriptive, prospective study of all patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy during an 18-month period between August 1999 and January 2000.