title: History of carotid surgery.
abstract: The history of carotid surgery begins not with the detailing of the various surgical procedures, as might be imagined, but with a history of the understanding of the nature of carotid occlusive disease. It was only through an understanding of the basis of this disease that a rational surgical treatment could be formulated. Following a well-characterized disease process, surgical strategies were developed and refined during the first half of the twentieth century. After these surgical techniques had been refined, a number of national and international trials were performed to better determine which patients were candidates for surgical intervention. Currently, endovascular treatment stands on the horizon as a new therapeutic modality with which carotid occlusive disease may be treated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106, USA.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Loftus
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000266:history; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000266:history*