[Value of the carotid compression test for the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disorders]

The carotid compression tests have been performed in 1940 outpatients and 233 hospitalized patients with clinical signs and symptoms of cerebrovascular disturbances. The frequency of EEG slowing, positivity of the compression tests and carotis sinus hypersensitivity was in patients with local neurological signs: 36%, 22.5%, and 24.8%, while the corresponding numbers for patients without neurological signs were: 24.6%, 21.8%, 14.7%. On the basis of the carotis angiography the following groups of the patients could be formed: Thrombosis of the internal carotid artery (A), thrombosis of the anterior or medial cerebral artery (B), carotis stenosis (C), other vascular pathological signs of the arteries (D), normal angiography (E). They were compared with the control group of patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (F). The frequency of EEG slowing (A = 92%, B = 72%, C = 58.9%, D = 57%, E = 40%, F = 22.5%). The percentage of the positivity of carotid compression tests (A = 54%, B = 32%, C = 46%, D = 26%, E = 12%) and occurrence of carotis sinus hypersensitivity (A = 26.8%, B = 16%, C = 17.7%, D = 10.8%, E = 11.3%, F = 6.9%) were proportionate to the pathological morphological signs. The results of the compression tests may give indication for detailed clinical investigation, and are helpful in the estimation of the functional capacity of the carotid arteries in the cerebral circulation.