Carotid artery disease: clinical features and management

The most common cause of ischaemic carotid territory stroke, around 50% of cases, is thromboembolism from stenoses at the origin of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). Embolism is usually preceded by acute changes in plaque morphology, which predisposes towards overlying thrombus formation and embolization. The management of patients with carotid artery disease involves cardiovascular risk factor modification, antiplatelet and statin therapy in everyone. There is grade A, level I evidence that recently symptomatic patients with 50 –99% stenoses gain significant benefit from carotid endarterectomy (CEA), despite a small risk of perioperative stroke.
Source: Surgery (Medicine Publishing) - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Vascular surgery – I Source Type: research