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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Dec 14.
Published in final edited form as: JAMA Intern Med. 2016 May 1;176(5):626–633. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.0678

Table 3.

The 57 Unique Indications Grouped by Clinical Theme (N = 5226)

All Indications, No. (%)
Vascular Near-Syncope/Syncope Eye Related Preoperative Evaluation Neurological/Psychological Other Ear Related

3881 (74.2) 568 (10.8) 351 (6.7) 239 (4.5) 117 (2.2) 50 (0.94) 21 (0.40)
Carotid bruit, n = 1578
Stenosis/history of carotid disease, n = 1099
Hypertension with another vascular risk factor, n = 505
History of stroke/TIA >6 mo, n = 199
Follow-up after CEA/CAS >2 y, n = 175
Old stroke/silent stroke found on neuroimaging, n = 95
Carotid calcification/finding on x-ray or other image, n = 80
Follow-up after CEA/CAS <2 y, n = 63
Suspected carotid disease, n = 44
Smoking history with another vascular risk factor, n = 35
Decreased carotid pulse, n = 5
No palpable carotid pulse, n = 2
Family history of cerebrovascular accident, n = 1
Dizziness/vertigo, n = 388
Syncope, n = 147
Lightheadedness, n = 22
Orthostatic hypotension, n = 11
Blurred vision/change in vision, n = 124
Multiple unilateral peripheral retinal hemorrhage, n = 36
Single unilateral peripheral retinal hemorrhage, n = 28
Hollenhorst plaque/eye plaque, n = 59
Ocular ischemic syndrome, n = 38
Asymmetrical intraocular pressure, n = 1
Branch retinal vein occlusion, n = 13
Asymmetrical retinopathy, n = 30
Optic nerve ischemia, n = 9
Diplopia, n = 5
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, n = 3
Sequential disk swelling, n = 1
Cotton wool spot, n = 1
Occasional dark spot in visual field, n = 1
Optic nerve changes, n = 1
Cystoid macular edema, n = 1
Other surgical procedures, n = 146
CABG, n = 93
Memory loss or dementia, n = 32
Fall (without focal weakness), n = 26
Tilting/change in gait (without focal weakness), n = 11
Balance problems (without focal weakness), n = 10
Seizure, n = 8
Tingling sensation of body part without other neurologic deficit, n = 7
Nonfocal peripheral neuropathy, n = 7
Tremor, n = 6
Mental status change, n = 5
Staggering (without focal weakness), n = 4
Tingling sensation with elevation of head, n = 1
Headache, n = 17
Generalized weakness, n = 16
Neck pain, n = 10
Chest pain, n = 2
Cardiac murmur radiating to neck, n = 2
Jaw pain, n = 2
Dyspnea, n = 1
Pulsation in ears, n = 14
Tinnitus, n = 5
Ringing above ear, n = 1
Ear tingling, n = 1

Abbreviations: CABG, coronary artery bypass graft; CAS, carotid stenting; CEA, carotid endarterectomy; TIA, transient ischemic attack.