Effect of carotid endarterectomy on the antihypertensive properties of the carotid sinus reflex.

In eight patients subjected to carotid reconstructive surgery, the reflex effect on systemic pressure of an increase in carotid sinus transmural pressure was studied, before and two months after endarterectomy. The increase in carotid sinus transmural pressure was obtained by applying subatmospheric pressure to the neck. It was found that the closed loop gain of the carotid sinus reflex, calculated as the ratio of change in systemic pressure to change in carotid sinus transmural pressure, was 0.53 before and 0.52 two months after endarterectomy. It is thus concluded that carotid endarterectomy has no persisting effect on the antihypertensive properties of the carotid sinus reflex.