Page 367 - Read Online

Abdelhaliem et al. Vessel Plus 2020;4:31 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2020.13

Review Open Access

Correlation of carotid artery disease and tinnitus: is
it an auditory phantom in vascular surgery practice?

A wide evidence-based review

Amr Abdelhaliem , Callum Howard , Mohamad Bashir , Hazem Elsantawy , Haytham Al-Khaffaf 1
1
1
2
1
1 Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Blackburn BB2 3HH, UK.
2 Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Correspondence to: Dr. Mohamad Bashir, Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Haslingden
Rd, Blackburn BB2 3HH, UK. E-mail: mohamad.bashir@nhs.net; Dr. Callum Howard, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,
University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PR, UK. E-mail: callum.howard099@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Abdelhaliem A, Howard C, Bashir M, Elsantawy H, Al-Khaffaf H. Correlation of carotid artery disease and
tinnitus: is it an auditory phantom in vascular surgery practice? A wide evidence-based review. Vessel Plus 2020;4:31.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2020.13
Received: 1 May 2020 First Decision: 15 Jun 2020 Revised: 3 Aug 2020 Accepted: 12 Aug 2020 Published: 21 Oct 2020

Academic Editor: Mario F. L. Gaudino Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Jing Yu
Received: First Decision: Revised: Accepted: Published: x

Science Editor: Copy Editor: Production Editor: Jing Yu Abstract
Carotid artery diseases can result in many extracranial manifestations. Tinnitus is a recognised symptom and has
long been correlated with significant internal carotid artery stenosis. It has been largely classified into pulsatile and
non-pulsatile types with variable management approaches and prognoses. Surgical and endovascular approaches
to treat carotid artery stenosis have not only aimed to reduce stroke rates but also to manage such symptoms.
The clinical and cognitive evidence of such practices are broad and managed in a combined spectrum with
otolaryngologists. This literature review aims to focus on current evidence and practice with vascular surgeons on
the importance of dealing with tinnitus in managing carotid artery stenosis.

Keywords: Carotid artery disease, carotid artery stenosis, tinnitus, carotid endarterectomy

INTRODUCTION
Tinnitus is a common symptom affecting 10%-15% of the population and can be generally classified
[1]
into either pulsatile or non-pulsatile types . The non-pulsatile form is recognised as the more common
[2]
presentation of the two and is most often related to episodes of a continuous ringing or whistling sound .

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

www.vpjournal.net