ABSTRACT
In the Czech Republic, stroke is the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of functional impairment and ischemic strokes predominate (80%) over hemorrhagic (20%) (Bednařík et al. 2010). Annual incidence of ischemic stroke ranges from 250 to 300 per 100,000 persons-years (Bednařík et al. 2010) and annual mortality from 70 to 80 per 100,000 persons-years and the incidence increases with the age (Lojík et al. 2008). Ischemic stroke is very frequently caused by carotid artery stenosis. The carotid artery is an artery that supplies the brain. A plaque is often built up here (atherosclerosis) and causes a narrowing (stenosis) of the artery. Pieces of plaque can break off and block the blood flow in arteries, which leads to a stroke.
