Evaluation of Carotid Ultrasonography Screening Among Kidney Transplant Candidates: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study

Kidney transplant candidates undergo rigorous testing prior to clearance for transplantation. Because kidney transplant candidates may be at increased risk for carotid artery stenosis because of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis secondary to hypertension, vascular calcification, and diabetes, carotid ultrasound is often performed with the intent of preventing a cerebrovascular accident in the perioperative or posttransplant period. To our knowledge, there has not been a study investigating the utility of screening carotid ultrasonography in pretransplant candidates. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the yield of carotid ultrasonography in end-stage renal disease patients, at high risk for having clinically significant vascular disease evaluated at our center for kidney transplantation during the years 2009 to 2014