ABSTRACT
Aim: NICE Guidelines recommend that all patients who suffer from a TIA or non-disabling stroke are rapidly assessed and imaged. Patients suspected of having symptomatic carotid stenosis should be referred to a Vascular Centre for consideration of urgent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) within two weeks. Our aim was to assess the current referral-to-treatment timeline for carotid surgery in our Vascular Centre against these standards and explore the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on this. Method: We retrospectively interrogated the National Vascular Registry to identify patients undergoing CEA “pre-pandemic” (Jan - Dec 2019) and in a “contemporary period” (Jan - Sept 2021) Results: A total of 129 patients underwent CEA in the defined periods, including pre-Pandemic (80 patients) and contemporary (49 patients) periods. One patient had to be excluded due to inability to identify date of first symptoms. 2019 Data: The times (median) from symptoms to surgery were 10 days (interquartile range (IQR) 23 days), from imaging-to-referral, one day and from vascular review to surgery, two days. 2021 Data: The times (median) from symptoms to surgery were 10 days (IQR 12 days), from imaging-to-referral, two days and from vascular review to surgery, one day. Conclusions: The median time from symptoms to surgery has remained the same from pre-Pandemic data, though there is a decrease in IQR in current practice. We recommend creating a CEA Pathway to optimise the carotid service.