It used to be done automatically as soon as someone had a stroke. But stats eventually showed that there were worse outcomes than if they had taken an aspirin a day. Basically it was considered to be a bread-and-butter operation at the time. It is now only done when there is greater than 70% narrowing.
The other procedure she mentioned with regard to the research was on the tonsils. The perceived wisdom years ago was that half of those who came through the doctor's office would need to have their tonsils out. A study was done where if a group was sent to see a pediatrician, 50% would need to get them out. Then they would send the other 50% to another doctor, or the same 50%, and there would be second and third opinions. They would select different groups saying they needed them out.
I'm just wondering if you can put some perspective on this procedure and the fact that you don't feel there needs to be as much research, or we need to go into the procedure right away, given the fact that these procedures were thought to be safe, and then as they followed up they realized that people were having more strokes or were dying earlier because of the procedures.