[Electrocardiographic changes after surgical manipulation of the carotid arteries (author's transl)]

Seven patients showed deep symmetrical T wave inversions in their electrocardiograms after bilateral carotid endarterectomy. There was no evidence for myocardial ischaemia. These changes reversed completely within three months. Similar disturbances of repolarisation were seen in rats after bilateral denervation of the carotid sinus. These changes are probably of neurogenic origin, like those seen with central nervous system disorders. Their origin seems to be correlated to the acute imbalance of the autonomic innervation of the heart after surgical disturbance of baro- and chemoreceptors.