ONE-STAGE OR 2-STAGE COMBINED VERTEBRAL A ND CAROTID SURGERY

Surgery of the vertebral artery is controversial. Few teams performed this procedure routinely. The usefulness of the vertebral artery surge ry is even more questionable when carotid artery lesions are associate d. In such cases many surgeons claim that carotid artery surgery alone can relieve symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. In deciding wh ether or not to perform vertebral artery surgery three questions are e ssential. First, is a restauration of one or both vertebral artery nec essary in this situation ? Second, will combined surgery increase the risk of mortality and morbidity? Third what technique should be used a nd in what order?