Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis—Medical therapy alone versus medical therapy plus carotid endarterectomy or stenting

Vascular surgery has matured to the point that there exists robust bodies of literature exploring many of our therapies. However, this evidence is but one of the factors that dictate medical practice. Others include local patient demographics, the practical implications of healthcare delivery, and an individual surgeon's interpretation of this evidence, which can be somewhat subjective. As a result, there are numerous examples of vascular specialists' practice patterns differing depending on their geographic location. Recognizing this, the Editors of the Journal of Vascular Surgery and the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery have developed a series of Trans-Atlantic Debates to explore these instances. The inaugural debate explores the controversial question of how best to manage asymptomatic carotid artery stenoses. Our debators, Peter Schneider and Ross Naylor, offer reasoned and passionate arguments to defend their differing approaches. We trust that this addition to our journals will prove enlightening and, perhaps, entertaining