Carotid artery disease and low cerebral perfusion pressure: symptomatology, operative risk and outcome

Direct internal carotid artery blood pressure measurements in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy identified 49 patients, among 239 consecutive cases (21%), who had a reduction in perfusion pressure of 20% or more. The clinical history, objective findings and angiographic data were compared with those of a control group of a further 49 patients selected from the remaining patients operated on over the same period. The two groups were compared for short- and long-term outcome of surgery. We were unable to delineate a symptomatic neurological profile that identified patients with low perfusion pressures. Surgery in patients with low perfusion pressures seemed to be associated with an increased complication rate (12% versus 4%), although this was not statistically significant. Definite postoperative improvements in persisting neurological deficits were observed only in one patient. Long-term results were equal in the two groups with an annual stroke risk of 3%.