Preoperative White Matter Disease Severity Predicts Intraoperative Cerebral Desaturation During Carotid Endarterectomy

Objective

Carotid endarterectomy carries the risk of cerebral ischemia during carotid clamping. Traditional risk stratification relies on anatomic factors such as contralateral stenosis, yet these predictors demonstrate limited sensitivity for intraoperative hypoperfusion. White matter hyperintensities (WMH), quantified by the Fazekas scale, reflect chronic cerebral small vessel disease and impaired cerebrovascular reactivity. Whether baseline WMH burden predicts intraoperative cerebral oxygen desaturation during carotid clamping remains unknown.