Carotid Endarterectomy

What is a carotid endarterectomy?

A carotid endarterectomy is a surgery to remove plaque buildup from your carotid arteries. It is a treatment for carotid artery disease and can help prevent a stroke. Carotid endarterectomy involves opening the carotid arteries in your neck and removing the inner lining that has become diseased or damaged by plaque.

You have two carotid arteries, one on each side of your neck. They are the major arteries that carry blood from your heart to your brain. A buildup of plaque can narrow or block your carotid arteries. This is called carotid artery disease, and it puts you at risk for stroke.

Carotid endarterectomy is a major surgery with significant risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options depending on your specific circumstances. You should consider getting a second opinion about all your treatment choices before having a carotid endarterectomy.

Other procedures that may be performed

In addition to a carotid endarterectomy, your doctor may perform one or more diagnostic procedures. These procedures will tell your doctor how much plaque is in your carotid arteries. They include:

• Carotid angiography is a procedure that allows your doctor to take a picture or image (called an angiogram) of your carotid arteries
• Carotid ultrasound is a noninvasive, painless screening test that allows your doctor to examine your carotid arteries and evaluate the flow of blood through them.

Why is a carotid endarterectomy performed?

A carotid endarterectomy is a major surgical procedure that your doctor may recommend to treat carotid artery disease. Carotid artery disease is a buildup of plaque inside your carotid arteries. This narrows your carotid arteries and can eventually block them completely. Carotid artery disease is a serious health condition because it puts you at risk of having a stroke. A stroke is a block in the flow of blood to your brain.

Your doctor may recommend a carotid endarterectomy if other less invasive treatments are not an option. Talk with your doctor about all of your treatment options and consider getting a second opinion.

Your doctor may recommend a carotid endarterectomy if you have carotid artery disease and have any of the following conditions:

• Carotid artery stenosis of 60% or greater. Carotid stenosis is narrowing of your carotid arteries. Your doctor may decide that a carotid endarterectomy is a good preventive treatment for you if your carotid arteries have narrowed by 60% or more. This is true even if you do not have symptoms and have not had a stroke or a TIA.
• Prior stroke
• Prior transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). TIAs are a group of stroke-like symptoms that generally resolve within 24 hours. However, they are warning signs that you are at risk for a severe stroke.

How is a carotid endarterectomy performed?       

A vascular surgeon will lead your surgical team and perform your carotid endarterectomy in a hospital. A vascular surgeon is a surgeon who specializes in surgical treatment of diseases of the blood vessels.

A carotid endarterectomy is an open surgical procedure. Open surgery allows your surgeon to directly view and access the surgical area. Your surgeon will make an incision in your neck to expose the diseased part of your carotid artery. Your surgeon will then either clamp your carotid artery closed or place a temporary shunt around your artery.

The next step involves cutting open the diseased part of the artery and removing the inner lining, including the plaque buildup. Your surgeon will then close your artery and unclamp it or remove the shunt. He or she will then close up the incision in your neck.

Open surgery causes a certain amount of trauma to tissues, so it generally takes some time to recover. Your surgeon will determine how long you need to stay in the hospital based on your procedure, age, medical history, and general health.

Types of anesthesia that may be used