Determinants of prehospital and in-hospital delay in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis and their influence on the outcome after elective carotid endarterectomy.

This study revealed that older age, higher American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) stage, increasing severity of symptoms and ipsilateral moderate stenosis were associated with shorter prehospital delay. Non-specific symptoms were associated with a longer prehospital delay. Regarding in-hospital delay, older age, higher ASA stage, contralateral occlusion, preprocedural examination by a neurologist and admission on Fridays or Saturdays were associated with lagged treatment. A very short (<2 days) prehospital and intermediate in-hospital delay (2-3 days) were associated with increased risk of perioperative stroke or death.