What is the current status of invasive treatment of extracranial carotid artery disease?

Naylor, A Ross · Stroke · 2011

review · Level V

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Abstract

Year 2011 sees the publication of U.S. guidelines that recommend expanding indications for carotid artery stenting into "average-risk" patients, whereas guidelines from Australia/New Zealand largely do not. This article reviews the status of invasive treatment of carotid disease and highlights 2 controversial issues that were not really addressed in these guidelines: (1) a lack of emphasis on the importance of intervening rapidly after transient ischemic attack/minor stroke; and (2) why continue to recommend that only "highly selected" asymptomatic patients should undergo intervention when virtually no-one pays any attention?

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