Abstract

A 61-year-old male with Amaurosis Fugax secondary to left-sided carotid stenosis. Emergent Left carotid endarterectomy. Continued medical management outpatient after carotid endarterectomy.

AAFP recommends against screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (Grade D recommendation). This recommendation applies to adults without a history of stroke or neurologic signs or symptoms of a transient ischemic attack. The USPSTF found that the harms of screening asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis outweigh the benefits. However, clinicians should remain alert to the signs and/or symptoms of carotid artery stenosis and evaluate as appropriate.

Carotid stenosis is considered symptomatic if patients have a history of transient ischemic attack, amaurosis fugax, or stroke in the distribution of the narrowed artery

Symptomatic patients with >50% internal carotid stenosis should be referred for consideration of carotid revascularization.