- Critically narrowed carotid artery can be source of embolus
- Vessel narrowing usually > 70%
- Typical cardiovascular Rfs: DM, HTN, hyperlipidemia, smoking, age > 50, family hx, male
- Abrupt onset loss of neurological function
- Usually affects brain territory perfused by anterior circulation
- Visual loss and/or sense of gray curtain dropping in front of eye
- Sudden extremity weakness, facial asymmetry, slurred speech
- Can vary based on degree of co-existing cerebral vascular dz, collateral flow
- Limb weakness
- Facial droop
- Sometime bruit over affected vessel
- Other deficits based on collateral flow, co-existent vascular dz