Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome following carotid endarterectomy
Van Harten, B.; van Gool, W.A.; Legemate, D.A.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 141(50): 2461-2464
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 9555132 Document Number: 471456
Three patients with a severe symptomatic carotid stenosis developed headache, epileptic seizures and focal neurologic deficits several days after carotid endarterectomy. CT of the brain revealed hypodensities, indicative of cerebral oedema with haemorrhagic components. This is caused by cerebral hyperperfusion, a complication after carotid endarterectomy as a result of increased cerebral perfusion on the side of the operated carotid stenosis. Dysfunction of the cerebral autoregulation believed to be the cause of this hyperperfusion. Sometimes these complications are incorrectly attributed to one of the better known types of stroke.