Transient focal cerebral ischemia resulting from digital palpation of the carotid artery in the neck.
Complications of digital palpation of the carotid artery in the neck are uncommon. They include cardiac arrhythmias and cerebral ischemic events. A 65-year-old woman experienced transient paralysis of the left arm immediately after palpation of the right carotid artery; at surgery, a friable, atherosclerotic plaque was removed from the bifurcation of the artery. The most likely cause of a transient neurologic deficit after digital manipulation of the carotid artery in the neck is an embolus from an atherosclerotic carotid plaque. The authors review the literature on the frequency and pathogenetic mechanism of this complication.
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology*; D009333:Neck; D010173:Palpation / Q000009:adverse effects*