Patient outcomes beyond hospitalization: carotid endarterectomy surgical patient outcomes after a rapid recovery program.

Improved surgical techniques for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) surgical patients have resulted in improved postoperative hemodynamic stability of patients and reduced lengths of hospitalization. The purpose of this pilot project was to determine CEA patient outcomes after a rapid recovery hospitalization program. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in the study and contacted at 1 month after CEA surgery to examine carotid occlusive disease clinical symptoms, functional status, atherosclerotic disease risk-factor reduction, and patient satisfaction. Findings of the pilot study demonstrated that CEA surgical patients were able to resume physical and psychosocial functioning by 1 month after surgery at levels comparable to preoperative functioning. Subjects reported relief of carotid artery occlusive disease symptoms and reported high levels of independent functioning and satisfaction with CEA surgery. Men in the study had significantly higher levels of reported independence in functioning compared with the women, using a "0" to "10" scale to rate level of functioning independence. Findings from the pilot study will be used to develop an early recovery and atherosclerotic disease risk-factor modification program for CEA surgical patients.