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Contents
  • Who Needs This Surgery?
  • What Happens During the Procedure?
  • Risks and Recovery
  • Alternatives to Consider

Carotid Endarterectomy: What You Need to Know About This Life-Saving Surgery

Carotid Endarterectomy: What You Need to Know About This Life-Saving Surgery

The Basics

Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove plaque buildup from the carotid arteries in your neck. This operation can help prevent strokes in people with narrowed or blocked carotid arteries.
Contents
  • Who Needs This Surgery?
  • What Happens During the Procedure?
  • Risks and Recovery
  • Alternatives to Consider

Who Needs This Surgery?

Carotid endarterectomy is typically recommended for people with moderate to severe narrowing of the carotid arteries, especially if they've had stroke symptoms. Your doctor will carefully evaluate if the benefits outweigh the risks in your case. Factors like age, overall health, and severity of artery blockage are all considered.

What Happens During the Procedure?

The surgery is performed through an incision in the neck. The surgeon opens the carotid artery and carefully removes the plaque buildup inside. They may use a patch to close the artery, which can help prevent it from narrowing again. The whole procedure usually takes 1-2 hours.
Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove plaque buildup from the carotid arteries in the neck, aimed at preventing strokes in individuals with narrowed or blocked carotid arteries.

Risks and Recovery

Like any surgery, carotid endarterectomy has some risks, including stroke, heart attack, or bleeding. However, in experienced hands, serious complications are rare. Most people spend 1-2 days in the hospital and can return to normal activities within a few weeks. You'll need follow-up tests to check how well the artery is staying open.

Alternatives to Consider

For some patients, less invasive options like carotid stenting may be appropriate. This involves inserting a small tube to prop the artery open. Lifestyle changes and medications to control risk factors are also important for all patients with carotid artery disease.

FAQs

How long does the surgery take?

Typically 1-2 hours.

What's the success rate?

Over 95% when done by experienced surgeons.

Will I be awake during surgery?

You may have local or general anesthesia.

How soon can I drive after surgery?

Usually within 1-2 weeks.

Will I need this surgery again?

Possibly, if plaque builds up again over time.

The Bottom Line

Carotid endarterectomy is a well-established, effective procedure for preventing strokes in people with severely narrowed carotid arteries.
Talk to Doctronic about whether carotid endarterectomy might be right for you.
Additional References
  1. Chaturvedi S, et al. Neurology. 2005;65(6):794-801.
  2. Brott TG, et al. Stroke. 2011;42(1):e464-e540.
  3. Ricotta JJ, et al. J Vasc Surg. 2011;54(3):e1-e31.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.