This easy-to-read reference book contains much previously buried data about the carotid and other extracranial arterial lesions and their treatment. The collected facts deal with the anatomy, pathology and pharmacology of the carotid artery. Diagnosis by clinical, noninvasive and angiographic methods, results of operative and nonoperative treatment in various categories of patients, such as those with prior stroke, acute stroke, stroke in evolution, reversible ischemic neurologic deficit, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), crescendo TIAs and asymptomatic patients with bruits and/or stenoses, are included. Hard data is presented on early and late results of endarterectomy, the causes of morbidity and mortality, the long-term life expectancy of these patients with and without surgery, by category of disease. It quantifies a surgeon's options with relation to shunting or not shunting during surgery, the use of various monitoring techniques to prevent perioperative stroke, when to consider coronary artery bypass before carotid surgery, and the pros and cons of antiplatelet therapy pre- and post-operatively. Recent controversy on endarterectomy for asymptomatic stenosis is analyzed, including prospective clinical and noninvasive follow-up studies of such lesions. The recent downgrading of the effectiveness of extracranial-intracranial bypass is also discussed. For neurologists, neurosurgeons and vascular surgeons, the text is arranged for easy access and references to source material are always given. Editorial comments by the author are found at the end of each chapter.