[Peri-operative stroke and carotid artery disease in cardiac surgery]

Stroke still remains one of the most frequent and dreadful complications of contemporary cardiac surgery, due to the consequences and disabilities that can cause, often definite and irreversible. An intensive investigation has been dedicated to the search of their causes and pathogenic mechanisms, which are multiple and diverse, aimed at identification of risk factors and their adequate prevention. In this paper, the author makes an evaluation and critical review of this matter, giving particular emphasis to the participation and involvement of the carotid artery obstructive disease, its means and methods of diagnosis as well as indications for treatment, either by open conventional or endovascular management, performed previously or concomitantly with cardiac surgery.