Headache following carotid endarterectomy: a prospective study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove plaque from carotid arteries.
• Headache is a potential complication following this surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and characteristics of headaches after carotid endarterectomy.
• To evaluate the adequacy of current International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for post-endarterectomy headache.

Main Methods:

• A study of 50 consecutive patients (14 female, 36 male, mean age 70) undergoing carotid endarterectomy.
• Patients were monitored for headache occurrence within 28 days post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Headache was reported by 62% of patients, with 87% occurring within the first five days.
• Headaches were typically bilateral, mild to moderate, and often required no treatment.
• No correlation was found between headache occurrence and stenosis degree, intraoperative factors, or prior headache history.
• Only five patients met IHS criteria for post-endarterectomy headache.

Conclusions:

• Headache is a frequent occurrence after carotid endarterectomy when specifically assessed.
• The current IHS criteria for post-endarterectomy headache appear unsatisfactory and may require revision.