[Stenosis of the carotid arteries].

Atherosclerotic stenosis of carotid arteries is present in approximately 9% of patients above 60 years of age. The stenosis may be silent or may cause cerebral ischaemia--transient or permanent, including severe stroke leading to death. It is estimated that 20-25% of all strokes is caused by carotid artery stenosis in their extracranial course. Ultrasound technique with Doppler recording is an efficient method of carotid arteries stenoses assessment. Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis treated with acetylsalicylic acid 325 mg/day bears 6-11% risk of stroke in 5 years follow-up. The risk of cerebral ischaemia is significantly higher in persons with symptomatic stenoses. The risk of TIA or stroke recurrence reaches 30-45%. The treatment of carotid arteries stenoses comprises risk factors management and revascularisation procedures. Surgical treatment decreases the risk of stroke by 17%. Surgical endarterectomy perceived as the gold standard of interventional treatment may be efficiently replaced with percutaneous angioplasty with concomitant intravascular stent implantation.