Pathology of the carotid artery. Ultrasound diagnosis and treatment

Mosby’s Comprehensive Review of Radiography, 8th Edition

Cardiovascular diseases are of the greatest medico-social importance in the modern world. In our country, the relative share of mortality from these diseases is about 54%, and the morbidity is one of the highest in Europe. Cerebrovascular diseases make up approximately half of them and are one of the frequent causes of disability in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of the therapy of these diseases is not high. Approximately one-third of patients die, one-third remain severely disabled, requiring constant care from society and family. Thrombolysis, which is more effective, is applied only in strict indications, with good organization of emergency medical care, and for these reasons, even in the most developed countries, it is applied to about 1% of patients with ischemic cerebral circulation disorders.

Learning Radiology – Recognizing the Basics – 3rd Edition Herring, William

The development of severe ischemic strokes is the final and not very effective end of the fight against cerebrovascular diseases. It has been proven for a long time that the effective fight against cerebrovascular diseases is the primary prevention of the risk factors that cause them and the secondary prevention of patients who have experienced mild disorders of cerebral blood circulation. Carotid insufficiency is one of the frequent causes of ischemic disorders of cerebral circulation. Early diagnosis of this type of pathology in risk contingents of the population, in patients with TIA or mild ischemic strokes is important for timely medical, operative (endarterectomy) or intra-arterial interventional (angioplasty, stent implantation) treatment. Operative and interventional techniques are prevalent in our country, but their use is not widespread, primarily due to technical and organizational reasons. Mass and non-invasive detection of carotid pathology is associated with the development of ultrasound diagnostic methods. These are ultrasound Doppler sonography, color-coded Doppler sonography and transcranial techniques that allow early, rapid and painless examination of large contingents of patients. These methods are already well developed in Bulgaria and the examination of patients does not pose a problem.

These facts show that the prospects for the prevention of cerebrovascular disease are focused in the direction of diagnosis of risk factors and carotid insufficiency, and assessment of therapeutic behavior - medications or operative and interventional procedures. Therefore, there is a clear need for a more comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and treatment of carotid insufficiency, as the most common pathology and with the most promising treatment options.
The authors of the individual chapters are selected from among the best specialists in the field of extracranial carotid pathology, with contributions to the introduction and development of diagnostic research methods and operative and interventional treatment.
This is a guarantee for a more in-depth look at these problems and for the quality and relevance of the proposed material. In fact, this can be established from the first examination of the present monograph, which is an excellent example of text structuring, the quality of the original illustrative material and polygraphy.

Essentials of Radiology – Fourth Edition

Well-presented facts, original results, their illustration, literature awareness make this monograph a valuable practical guide for anyone dealing with the problems of cerebrovascular disease, its diagnosis and treatment. That is why this book is extremely important, it comes out on time and in parallel with similar monographs from other European countries, which is a sign that in this field we are in tune with our contemporaries.

CONTENTS

1. Anatomy and physiology of the carotid arterial system

2. Clinical picture of carotid insufficiency

3. Ophthalmological disorders in carotid insufficiency

4. Methods of examining the carotid arteries

5. Treatment of carotid pathology

6. Organization of the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral strokes

7. Index

8. European stroke initiative

9. Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of Transient Ischemic Attacks of the National Stroke Association – USA