Carotid endarterectomy is the most
common vascular surgery in the United States and the third most common surgery overall. Today, the surgery is proving more successful than ever in preventing stroke, reducing risk by as much as 55 percent.
What is a carotid endarterectomy?
It's surgery to remove fatty deposits from one of the two main arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. As people age, there is build up of fat in the artery walls. This is known as atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries." The fatty deposit is called plaque and the narrowing of the artery is called stenosis. The degree of stenosis is expressed as a percentage of the normal diameter of the opening.
Why is the surgery performed?
To prevent stroke. People who have already had a stroke or the warning signs of stroke and have a blockage benefit from the procedure. In this group, surgery reduces the estimated two-year risk of stroke by more than 80 percent. The procedure also benefits people who are symptom free, but have a blockage of 60 to 99 percent. In this group, the surgery reduces the estimated five-year risk of stroke by more than one-half. People recovering from a severe stroke or those with a 100 percent blockage may not be candidates for this surgery.
How important is a blockage as a cause of stroke?
A blockage of a blood vessel is the most common cause of 730,00- new strokes in the United States each year.
How is carotid artery disease diagnosed?
In most cases, the disease can be detected by your doctor during a routine examination. Sometimes, ultrasound imaging or other techniques may be used.
Carotid Endarterectomy
