Surgical Treatment of Carotid Artery Disease

Abstract

The rationale for operating on patients with carotid artery disease is to prevent stroke. It has been estimated that in 50 to 80% of patients who experience an ischemic stroke, the underlying cause is a lesion in the distribution of the carotid artery, usually in the vicinity of the carotid bifurcation. Appropriate identification and intervention could significantly reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke. Carotid endarterectomy for both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis has been extensively evaluated in prospective, randomized trials. Surgical reconstruction of the carotid artery yields the greatest benefits when done by surgeons who can keep complication rates to an absolute minimum. The majority of complications associated with carotid arterial procedures are either technical or judgmental; accordingly, this review emphasizes the procedural aspects of planning and operation considered to be particularly important for deriving the best short- and long-term results from surgical intervention. Specifically, this review covers preoperative evaluation, operative planning, operative technique, postoperative care, follow-up, and alternatives to direct carotid reconstruction. Figures show carotid arterial procedures including recommended patient positioning, the commonly used vertical incision, the alternative transverse incision, mobilization of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to identify the jugular vein, palpation of the internal carotid artery, division of the structures between the internal and external carotid arteries to allow the carotid bifurcation to drop down, division of the posterior belly of the digastric muscle to yield additional exposure of the internal carotid artery, a graphic representation of the measurement of internal carotid artery back-pressure, a central infarct zone surrounded by an ischemic zone, shunt placement, open endarterectomy, eversion endarterectomy, repair of fibromuscular dysplasia, and repair of coiling or kinking of the internal carotid artery. This review contains 17 figures, and 25 references Key words: Carotid artery disease; Carotid endarterectomy; Carotid angioplasty with stenting; Eversion endarterectomy; Open endarterectomy; Carotid plaque; TCAR