“…Carotid intervention immediately before coronary surgery followed by administration of intravenous heparin between the procedures has not been well evaluated. 344,[346][347][348][349][350][351] In the nonrandomized Nationwide Inpatient Sample of 27,084 patients discharged from 2000 to 2004, 352 fewer major adverse events, postoperative strokes (2.4% versus 3.9%), and combined strokes and deaths (6.9% versus 8.6%; p<0.001) were reported among patients undergoing CAS plus CABG surgery than in those undergoing CEA plus CABG surgery, although rates of in-hospital mortality were similar (5.2% versus 5.4%). Whether the lower rate of complications with CAS than CEA in this population undergoing CABG surgery reflects case selection bias or an intrinsic safety advantage remains uncertain, and properly designed prospective studies are needed.…”