ABSTRACT
The proposed risk factors leading to postoperative stroke include, but are not limited to, carotid stenosis, age, comorbid conditions and intraoperative events such as hemorrhage, shock, cardiac ischemia, prolonged hypotension and anticoagula tion. Among these preoperative and intraoperative risk factors, it is the identifica tion and potential correction of internal carotid artery (IGA) stenosis, in addition to careful medical management, that may lead to a reduction in the occurrence of perioperative stroke following aortic aneurysm repair and aortoiliac reconstruction for occlusive disease. Diagnosis and treatment of ICA stenosis in this group of patients also carries the potential to reduce the long term risk o f stroke resulting from ICA stenosis by identifying patients who are candidates for carotid endarterectomy based on the presence of carotid stenosis alone.
