RISKY ARTERY OPERATION MAY CUT STROKE RISK

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 28, 1993                   TAG: 9301280014
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: ASSOCIATED PRESS                                LENGTH: Short
RISKY ARTERY OPERATION MAY CUT STROKE RISK
An operation to clean out clogged arteries in the neck appears to reduce the risk of strokes and other cerebral problems in people with relatively mild disease, researchers say. But it's still unclear whether the risky surgery helps people live longer.
The operation, called carotid endarterectomy, is performed on an estimated 100,000 Americans annually. It cleans out blockages in the carotid arteries, the two major vessels that carry blood to the brain.
While earlier research has shown it is worthwhile for those with severe disease, many of those who get the surgery show no outward symptoms of their condition. The new study was intended to show whether it makes sense for these people, too.
The eight-year study was conducted at 11 Veterans Affairs hospitals. It was directed by Dr. Robert W. Hobson II of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB