A 50-99% stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery can be in detected in 1-3% of all adults. Embolising plaques or acute carotid occlusions cause cerebral ischemia in 1-5% of all patients with an asymptomatic 50-99% stenosis of the internal carotid artery. The prevention of carotid-related strokes by best medical treatment, carotid endarterectomy, or carotid stenting has been evaluated by several prospective randomized multi-center trials. Under the auspices of the German Vascular Society an interdisciplinary evidence- and consensus-based guideline for the management of patients with an extracranial carotid stenosis was initiated and will be published in 2012. Therefore all recent national and international guidelines for stroke management, stroke prevention and carotid artery disease published between 2008 and 2011 were reviewed. This paper gives an overview about these guidelines and their most important recommendations with respect to carotid artery stenosis.     «

A 50-99% stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery can be in detected in 1-3% of all adults. Embolising plaques or acute carotid occlusions cause cerebral ischemia in 1-5% of all patients with an asymptomatic 50-99% stenosis of the internal carotid artery. The prevention of carotid-related strokes by best medical treatment, carotid endarterectomy, or carotid stenting has been evaluated by several prospective randomized multi-center trials. Under the auspices of the German Vascular Soc...     »