Operative assessment of carotid endarterectomy: internal carotid arterial back pressure, carotid arterial blood flow, and carotid arteriography

Determination of internal carotid arterial (ICA) back pressure, electromagnetic measurement of internal carotid arterial blood flow, and performance of operative carotid arteriography have been assessed in a series of elective carotid endarterectomies. If ICA back pressure is used to determine the need for an internal shunt, our data suggest that a minimal pressure of 60-70 mmHg is required to insure adequacy of callateral cerebral blood flow in all patients. Internal carotid arterial blood flow was not significantly increased after endarterectomy. Although flow measurements are of some interest, their routine measurement does not appear to have significant clinical usefulness. Operative carotid arteriography is a valuable technique in identifying unsuspected technical errors at the site of endarterectomy and should be used routinely.