Carotid endarterectomy and angioplasty in Scotland: reaching a Scottish view

The timing of carotid endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis is vital if it is to provide maximum benefit to patients. Throughout Scotland there are delays in referring patients to neurovascular clinics and on to surgery, where indicated. Evidence suggests that in those patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis, greater than 70%, surgery should ideally be performed within two weeks. In order to reduce delays to surgery (where appropriate) there needs to be an improvement in the organisation of services so that rapid assessment of high-risk patients can be made.