[Open surgical treatment for carotid stenoses].

Background: Globally, stroke is considered the second most common cause of death. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, 33.6% of mortality was due to cardiovascular diseases, making them the most prevalent cause of death.

Problem: Specifically, cerebral infarctions were recorded as the cause in over 16,000 cases. These figures underscore the significant role that cerebrovascular diseases play in Germany's mortality statistics. Notably, about 80% of strokes are ischemic. Moreover, one-fifth of all strokes result from extracranial carotid stenosis. The increase in stroke risk with advancing age, especially among men, is particularly striking. This trend highlights the growing importance of efficient stroke prevention and treatment in an aging society.

Conclusion: Open surgical therapy, as a crucial treatment method, is increasingly important, especially as an emergency intervention. Its role in modern medicine emphasizes the urgency of prioritizing this life-saving procedure in healthcare and making it widely available.