Recent experience with the asymptomatic cervical bruit

To document our recent experience with asymptomatic cervical bruit, we reviewed the records of 418 patients referred to the noninvasive vascular laboratory. Mean follow-up of 23.7 months was obtained for 370 patients by record review or telephone. In a group of 313 patients not operated on, transient ischemic attacks occurred in 14 and stroke in seven (6.7%). The risk of neurologic morbidity was highest in patients with advanced carotid stenosis. Carotid endarterectomy was performed 62 times in 57 patients, with one stroke (1.6%). If carotid endarterectomy is performed with low morbidity, identification of selected surgical candidates with advanced carotid stenosis is reasonable.