Carotid stenosis management: a review for the internist.
Stroke is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide and, for a long time, was the leading cause of death in developed countries. Atherothrombotic carotid stenosis is one of the most important etiologies behind this event. If properly recognized and treated, lives can be saved, as well as long-term disabilities prevented. With population aging and improvements in surgical and clinical care, patients with several comorbidities will be referred for revascularization procedures more frequently, posing a challenge for physicians. The purpose of this review is to provide internists and clinicians with information based on several studies so they can offer to their patients, the best evidence-based care, indicating appropriate medical therapy, as well as referral to a vascular surgeon, or what contraindicates endarterectomy or angioplasty, depending on individual characteristics.
Interdisciplinary Medicine in Cardiology Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), São Paulo University Medical School (USP), Avenida Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44, Anexo II, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil, gabriel_carmo@yahoo.com.br.
Gabriel Assis Lopes
GA
Carmo
Daniela
D
Calderaro
Danielle Menosi
DM
Gualandro
Ivan Benaduce
IB
Casella
Pai Ching
PC
Yu
André Coelho
AC
Marques
Bruno
B
Caramelli
D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods