Carotid endarterectomy can reduce your risk of stroke
Blood travels to your brain through two carotid arteries on each side of your neck. Over time, plaque buildup can narrow the arteries and reduce or block blood flow to your brain. This condition, called carotid artery disease or carotid artery stenosis, increases your risk of experiencing a stroke.
A type of vascular surgery called carotid endarterectomy can be used to treat carotid artery disease and significantly reduce your risk of a stroke. It can also help prevent future strokes if you’ve ever had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke.
Treating carotid artery disease with carotid endarterectomy
A type of peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, occurs when atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in the arteries—narrows or blocks the carotids, leading to a stroke by disrupting blood flow to the brain. In other cases, if a blood clot forms from plaque in a carotid artery, it may break away and block an artery in the brain, which can cause a stroke.
During a carotid endarterectomy procedure, your surgeon removes the plaque in the arteries to restore blood flow to the brain and help reduce your risk of future strokes.
Who is a candidate for carotid endarterectomy?
If your provider thinks you may have carotid artery disease, they will check your carotid arteries to determine the extent of the blockage(s). Carotid endarterectomy may be right for you if you have a blockage of at least 50% and have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) or if you have a blockage of 70% or more, regardless of symptoms or complications.
Other procedures for carotid artery disease
There is another procedure that may be an option for you other than carotid endarterectomy surgery:
- Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), where your surgeon uses special equipment to reverse blood flow and inserts a stent to keep your narrowed artery open
Benefits of carotid endarterectomy
Treatments for carotid artery disease improve blood flow to your brain and reduce your risk of having a stroke.
You can improve the results of your carotid endarterectomy and further reduce your risk of stroke by making the following healthy lifestyle changes after your procedure:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
What to expect from carotid endarterectomy surgery
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Before surgery
Before surgery
Your surgeon will perform a physical exam and may order tests to ensure you’re healthy enough to have surgery. To help you stay safe during and after carotid endarterectomy, you’ll need to take some important steps in the days and weeks leading up to the surgery. Your surgical team may recommend that you:
- Quit smoking
- Stop eating and drinking just before the surgery, according to your surgeon’s instructions
- Stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, as directed by your surgeon
Ask your surgeon which medicines you can take on the day of surgery. Be sure you know when to arrive at the hospital—a prompt arrival helps the process run smoothly—and where to go when you arrive. It’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member to accompany you so they can drive you to the hospital and take you home. You may be able to go home the same day after your procedure, but be sure to pack essential items for a hospital stay in case you need to spend the night.
-
During surgery
During surgery
Carotid endarterectomy usually takes around two hours and is considered open surgery. That means your vascular surgeon will make an incision in your neck to access and treat your carotid arteries.
Here’s what happens when you have the procedure:
- You’ll receive general anesthesia to send you to sleep or a local anesthetic to numb the surgical area.
- Your surgeon will make a cut in the side of your neck to reach the narrowed carotid artery.
- Your surgeon places a catheter (a small tube) in the artery to divert blood around the blockage.
- After opening the artery, your surgeon removes the plaques to eliminate the carotid artery blockage.
- Once the plaques are out, your surgeon closes the artery using part of a vein or a synthetic patch.
-
After surgery
After surgery
It is standard practice to stay overnight for observation so the team can monitor you for potential complications. It is common to stay overnight for observation so the team can monitor you for potential complications. In that case, you’ll likely go home the next day.
You can give yourself the best chance of a smooth recovery by following your surgeon’s instructions for when to resume normal activities, including working and driving. If your incision shows signs of infection, notify your surgeon right away.
Be sure to attend your follow-up appointment, where you may have a carotid ultrasound so your surgeon can check how well blood is flowing through the carotid artery.
Your throat may be sore after surgery, but it will improve. In the meantime, avoid eating foods that might irritate your throat. Your incision will be numb, but the feeling will return over time.
Before surgery
Your surgeon will perform a physical exam and may order tests to ensure you’re healthy enough to have surgery. To help you stay safe during and after carotid endarterectomy, you’ll need to take some important steps in the days and weeks leading up to the surgery. Your surgical team may recommend that you:
- Quit smoking
- Stop eating and drinking just before the surgery, according to your surgeon’s instructions
- Stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, as directed by your surgeon
Ask your surgeon which medicines you can take on the day of surgery. Be sure you know when to arrive at the hospital—a prompt arrival helps the process run smoothly—and where to go when you arrive. It’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member to accompany you so they can drive you to the hospital and take you home. You may be able to go home the same day after your procedure, but be sure to pack essential items for a hospital stay in case you need to spend the night.
During surgery
Carotid endarterectomy usually takes around two hours and is considered open surgery. That means your vascular surgeon will make an incision in your neck to access and treat your carotid arteries.
Here’s what happens when you have the procedure:
- You’ll receive general anesthesia to send you to sleep or a local anesthetic to numb the surgical area.
- Your surgeon will make a cut in the side of your neck to reach the narrowed carotid artery.
- Your surgeon places a catheter (a small tube) in the artery to divert blood around the blockage.
- After opening the artery, your surgeon removes the plaques to eliminate the carotid artery blockage.
- Once the plaques are out, your surgeon closes the artery using part of a vein or a synthetic patch.
After surgery
It is standard practice to stay overnight for observation so the team can monitor you for potential complications. It is common to stay overnight for observation so the team can monitor you for potential complications. In that case, you’ll likely go home the next day.
You can give yourself the best chance of a smooth recovery by following your surgeon’s instructions for when to resume normal activities, including working and driving. If your incision shows signs of infection, notify your surgeon right away.
Be sure to attend your follow-up appointment, where you may have a carotid ultrasound so your surgeon can check how well blood is flowing through the carotid artery.
Your throat may be sore after surgery, but it will improve. In the meantime, avoid eating foods that might irritate your throat. Your incision will be numb, but the feeling will return over time.
Find a location near you
If you need a carotid endarterectomy, you can trust the expertise of our teams at specialized locations across Central and North Texas. After your surgery, you can receive comprehensive follow-up care at one of our many convenient locations.
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