Management of Carotid Artery Dissection

The authors evaluated current treatment options for carotid artery dissection, both medical and procedural.

Recent evidence suggests that antithrombotic therapy is key for management of carotid artery dissection. Procedures are typically reserved for when medical management is ineffective, although novel classification systems for carotid artery dissection may better identify patients who will benefit from early procedural interventions.

Carotid artery dissections occur when a tear in the intima of the carotid artery allows for accumulation of intramural hematoma within the layers of the arterial wall. One of the more devastating outcomes is a stroke, and as such most management strategies center around treating acute stroke and preventing recurrence. More research is needed to determine the optimal approach to antithrombotic therapy.