ABSTRACT

Most of the strokes that occur within the first few years after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke in patients with carotid stenosis are ischemic and occur in the territory of the symptomatic artery. All patients with recently symptomatic carotid stenosis require treatment to reduce their risk of stroke and other vascular events. Medical treatment has been discussed in the preceding chapters. This chapter will concentrate on the selection of patients for carotid surgery based on data from relevant randomized controlled trials and based on the risk of stroke on medical treatment alone.