[Cerebral protection in carotid artery surgery. The role of the intraluminal shunt. Results of a national survey].

Clamping of the carotid artery made necessary by surgery of that vessel produces haemodynamic disturbances which may result in a neurological deficit accident at recovery from anaesthesia. Evaluating the patient's tolerance to carotid clamping and using brain protection methods during clamping increase the safety of the operation. The different methods of protection used in France were examined in an enquiry conducted among members of the French college of vascular surgery, with special attention to measurement of residual pressure in the clamped internal carotid artery (performed by 60 p. 100 of surgeons) and its corollary which is intraluminal shunting in case of hypotension. This type of enquiry concerning controverted technical procedures should provide information on the best way of improving surgical results.