A review of the mortality and morbidity of carotid endarterectomy reported during the last 10 years was made and compared to the risk of carotid stenosis managed by the best medical treatment. For comparison, the patients were classified in asymptomatic patients (grade I), patients with transient ischaemic attacks (grade II), patients with ischaemic neurological deficits operated on acutely (grade III) and into patients with no or incomplete recovery 4-6 weeks after the stroke (grade IV). Based on the results of this literature review, only patients in grade II seem to benefit from carotid endarterectomy.