The asymptomatic carotid bruit and the ocular pneumoplethysmography
W. Gee, D. W. Oller, D. G. Amundsen and J. J. Goodreau
Patients with asymptomatic carotid bruits require some noninvasive method
for detecting which would benefit from angiography and possible
prophylactic operative repair of the suspected atherosclerotic lesion. This
report describes the use of the ocular pneumoplethysmograph (OPG) in this
regard. Data for establishing OPG criteria of significant carotid stenosis
were derived from studies in symptomatic patients who had also undergone
angiography. In this review, the OPG demonstrated an accuracy of 91.6% in
detecting at least a 75% diameter stenosis. The OPG criteria were applied
to 116 patients with asymptomatic carotid bruits. Forty two of the 116
patients fulfilled at least one of the four criteria for angiography. In 38
of the 40 patients who underwent angiography, the OPG findings were
confirmed, for an accuracy of 95%. Twenty-two patients underwent 27
operations, without morbidity or mortality.
