Table of Contents
Surgery
Carotid Endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure that cleans out plaque and opens up the narrowed carotid arteries in the neck. It is recommended to prevent ischemic stroke in some patients who have symptoms of carotid artery stenosis and carotid narrowing of 70% or more. For people whose carotid arteries are narrowed by 50% or less, anti-clotting medications (antiplatelets and anticoagulants) are usually recommended in place of surgery. For patients with moderate stenosis (50 - 69%), the decision to perform surgery needs to be determined on an individual basis.
There is a risk of a heart attack or stroke from the procedure. Anyone undergoing this procedure should be sure their surgeon is experienced in performing this procedure and that the medical center has complication rates of less than 6%. Carotid endarterectomy is generally not recommended for patients with acute stroke.
Procedure Description. A carotid endarterectomy involves:
- The patient is usually given general anesthesia, although a local anesthetic is sometimes used.
- The surgeon cuts open the carotid artery and scrapes away the plaque on the arterial wall.
- The artery is sewn back together, and blood flow is restored.
- The patient generally stays in the hospital for about 1 - 2 days.
- There is often a slight aching in the neck for about 2 weeks, and the patient should refrain as much as possible from turning the head during this period. Patients may experience a loss of sensation in the neck area, which will go away within a few months.
Review Date: 05/06/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
