Management strategy for carotid artery steno-occlusion

Abstract

Recently the role of surgical and interventional therapy has been increasing in the management of ischemic stroke due to carotid artery stenosis or occlusion. Various treatment modalities have been reported to be beneficial if these procedures are performed within therapeutic window and with optimal indication: intravascular thrombolysis for acute carotid occlusion, extracranial–intracranial (EC–IC) bypass surgery for hemodynamic ischemic stroke, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) for severe symptomatic carotid artery stenosis or occlusion. Recent management strategies will be described from literature review and our limited experience for enhancing the effectiveness of treatment modalities for carotid artery stenosis or occlusion.