Carotid Endarterectomy

A Carotid Endarterectomy is a neurosurgical procedure that is performed in order to prevent the occurrence of a stroke. In this procedure, the surgeon will correct a narrowing that has formed in the common carotid artery.

The common carotid artery, which supplies the head and neck with oxygenated blood, has a paired structure, meaning there are two, one for each side of the body. They both follow the same course; however, the right originates in the neck while the left arises from the aortic arch in the thoracic region.

A condition called Atherosclerosis, describes the process of plaque and fatty deposits (such as cholesterol) forming and building up in the carotid arteries as people get older and live unhealthy life styles. When this happens in either or both of the carotid arteries, they can become narrowed, a condition which is called stenosis.

The presence of these fatty deposits in the carotid arteries of the neck constitutes a major risk factor for an 'ischemic stroke' (the most common kind). An ischemic stroke is when there is an interruption of the blood flow to the brain from the narrowed carotid artery. A carotid endarterectomy procedure is performed in order to prevent this from happening.

Carotid Artery Video

Narrowed Carotid Artery Symptoms

Carotid stenosis can be detected in a routine checkup. A doctor will usually search for this condition when the patient will describe he has been experiencing symptoms of a stroke. The patient may actually be experiencing TIAA transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, without acute infarction. The symptoms of a TIA can resolve within a few minutes unlike a stroke (Source: Wikipedia). (transient ischemic attacks).

These symptoms, that can last anywhere from minutes to up to 24 hours, can include:

• Numbness, muscle weakness or sudden paralysis, usually on one side of the body.
• Speech or vision difficulties
• Sudden confusion, lightheadedness or fainting
• Loss of balance and poor coordination
• Severe headaches

Once experiencing symptoms like these, it is recommended you see your doctor immediately.

Carotid Endarterectomy Surgery

The procedure is generally done under general anesthesia. While on your back and head turned to the side, the surgeon will perform a small incision in the neck below the jaw to expose the artery.

At this point the surgeon will create a small bypass for the blood flow, rerouting it through a tube to make sure blood will keep flowing to the brain. Once the bypass is complete, the surgeon will open the artery and remove the fatty buildup. If necessary, the doctor will sew a vein from the leg on the carotid artery to widen or repair the vessel.

There is also the possibility of a 'stenting' procedure, which is a minimal invasive surgery. Using a catheter, the surgeon will insert a balloon and open up the narrowing by inflating it in place and leaving a stent to keep the artery open. As this is done with local anesthesia, the recovery is much shorter than the regular procedure.

The patient may be moved for the first 24 hours into the intensive care unit to be closely monitored. After that, depending on the type of procedure performed, a hospitalization period of 1-3 days is expected before the release and a return to normal life activities.

Carotid Endarterectomy Surgery Abroad

If you have been diagnosed with the need for carotid endarterectomy surgery, you do not want to wait to have this procedure done. TicketMed works with the top neurosurgery clinics around the globe and will be happy to assist you acquiring all the information needed as well as finding a qualified surgeon to perform the operation. Contact us or ask for a quote.