Carotid artery stenosis

Patients should be followed up annually after the postoperative visits associated with revascularisation. In some countries, annual surveillance is not recommended. Clinical evaluation should include assessment for development of new transient ischaemic attack or stroke-like symptoms, which might require referral to a neurologist for confirmation of the diagnosis. Testing might include non-invasive duplex ultrasound examination to identify potential recurrent stenosis or the development of stenosis in the contralateral carotid artery. Patients placed on pharmacological management and who have not had revascularisation might also be followed annually for possible disease progression in the form of increasing degrees of stenosis.