Carotid endarterectomy (CEA), also known as carotid artery surgery, removes plaque buildup from inside a carotid artery in a patient’s neck. It is often performed to prevent a stroke by restoring normal blood flow to the brain. CEA is a safe procedure when performed by experienced surgeons, but serious complications can occur.
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) – a condition characterized by severe headaches and a narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain – is a rare, yet serious complication that can occur after CEA. It can be treated effectively, but a delay or missed diagnosis can result in cerebral ischemia, cerebral infarction (stroke), and permanent neurologic deficits.
A team of physicians from the UC San Francisco Departments of Neurology and Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Neuro Interventional Radiology (Neuro IR) section, recently…
