ABSTRACT
In this particular case, the arteriogram was interpreted by an outside radiologist to be a complete carotid occlusion and the patient was sent home without any consideration of surgery. One year later, the patient presented to our clinic for consideration of a cervical laminectomy, having recovered from his stroke. At that point I reviewed the old carotid films and sent him for a duplex scan, which showed anterograde flow. His arteriogram was then repeated (B and C) and actually demonstrated a reconstitution of carotid flow with a lesion of approximately 95% stenosis but now with some flow up into the intracranial circulation. After explaining the situation to the patient, an uneventful carotid endarterectomy was performed.
