Episodes of flushing, dyspnea and hypertension after carotid stenting for severe carotid stenosis

Abstract Introduction Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is a treatment option for carotid stenosis in high surgical risk patients. As it implies instrumentation of the carotid bulb, baroreceptors dysfunction may be provoked with consequent hemodynamic instability. Report An 83-year-old woman treated by CAS presented with episodes of flushing, dyspnea and palpitations accompanied by transitory desaturation, hypertension, agitation and anxiety. Symptoms started 12 h after the procedure. Each episode lasted 10 min. Five episodes in 3 days were observed. Discussion A dysfunction of the carotid baroreceptors and chemoreceptors was hypothesized.