Occlusion of the Internal Carotid Artery

The advances in the recognition of occlusive cerebrovascular disease and its treatment have been well documented. At this stage of knowledge we must keep in mind the warning of a student of this subject (Millikan): “Atherosclerotic stenosis of extracranial vessels without symptoms is so common and the natural history of these lesions with symptoms is so variable that a number of years of study will probably be needed to accurately define the role of surgical treatment.”