RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To sum up the experience of carotid endarterectomy (CEA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 1999 to July 2003, 59 patients were treated by CEA. There were 40 males and 19 females, and their age ranged from 56 to 79 years with an average of 71.8 years. The stenotic degree of internal carotid artery were over 80% in all cases. The left lesions were in 35 cases, and the right in 19, and the bilateral in 5. Patching were in 5, bypass with a great saphenous vein in 2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifty-five cases were excellent. Two patient died, one was caused by hyperperfusion syndrome, the another was due to the acute cardiac infarction at 31 days after operation. The complications included 5 hematosis and 1 hoarseness.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CEA is still the best method in treating the stenosis and occlusion of carotid artery.</p>