The effects of carotid endarterectomy on the retrobulbar circulation of patients with severe occlusive carotid artery disease. An investigation by color Doppler imaging.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effects of carotid endarterectomy on the retrobulbar circulation of patients with severe occlusive carotid artery disease (OCAD) by means of color Doppler imaging (CDI).

DESIGN

Prospective.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 17 consecutive patients with severe OCAD and neurologic symptoms (with a history of transitory ischemic attack or cerebral vascular accident) participated.

INTERVENTION

All 17 patients underwent carotid endarterectomy. The CDI of both orbits was performed by one masked investigator before surgery and at 1 week and 1 month after surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistive index of the ophthalmic, central retinal, and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries were measured. The authors compared the hemodynamic parameters at all intervals.

RESULTS

Peak systolic and end diastolic velocities in the ophthalmic, central retinal, and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries increased significantly 1 week and 1 month after carotid endarterectomy (P < 0.05). After surgery, the resistive indices in the central retinal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries decreased significantly at both intervals (P < 0.05). The six patients who had reversed ophthalmic artery flow before surgery showed forward ophthalmic artery flow after carotid endarterectomy. The contralateral orbits showed no significant hemodynamic change after endarterectomy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hemodynamic changes in patients with severe OCAD undergoing carotid endarterectomy suggest improvement in the ipsilateral retrobulbar blood flow.