[Cerebral hemorrhage after carotid endarterectomy in a young adult].

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral haemorrhage after carotid endarterectomy is a rare complication. It follows 0.5% to 20% of all endarterectomies, but should be borne in mind because of the morbidity and mortality seen in most cases.

CLINICAL CASE: We describe the case of a 42 year old man in whom carotid endarterectomy had been done 7 days before to treat a stenosis of 80%. He complained of a sudden onset of weakness of the right half of his body and changes in his speech. Physical examination showed right inferior facial paresia, right hemiparesia and right extensor cutaneous plantar reflex. On admission to the Emergency Department, before treatment, blood pressure was 80/60. Carotid auscultation and palpation were normal. Cerebral TRC showed a left lenticular haematoma. The patient progressed satisfactorily.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: We review the literature on the subject as well as the factors which should be considered as possibly predisposing to bleeding after carotid endarterectomy, such as arterial hypertension and occlusion or severe stenosis of the contralateral carotid artery. The detection of patients with the risk of postendarterectomy bleeding by simple noninvasive investigations, such as the transcranial doppler and the acetazolamide test, and early diagnosis of a clinical picture compatible with a hyperperfusion syndrome may contribute to the relief and prevention of sequelae in these patients.