An Overview of Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid Artery Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Tests, and Treatment

In this article

• What Are the Carotid Arteries?
• How Does Carotid Artery Disease Happen?
• What Are the Risk Factors for Carotid Artery Disease?
• What Are the Symptoms of Carotid Artery Disease?
• What Is a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)?
• How Is Carotid Artery Disease Diagnosed?
• What’s the Treatment for Carotid Artery Disease?
• What Are the Recommended Lifestyle Changes for Carotid Artery Disease?
• Which Drugs Can Reduce the Risk of Stroke?
• What Medical Procedures Treat Carotid Artery Disease?

Which Drugs Can Reduce the Risk of Stroke?

Your doctor may recommend antiplatelet medications such as aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) to decrease the risk of stroke caused by blood clots. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. In some cases, warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinner, may be prescribed.

 

What Medical Procedures Treat Carotid Artery Disease?

If there is severe narrowing or blockage in the carotid artery, a procedure can be done to open the artery. This will increase blood flow to the brain to prevent future stroke. Your doctor may suggest either of the following procedures:

• Carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This has been the commonly performed procedure for patients who have carotid atherosclerosis and TIAs or mild strokes. While you’re under general anesthesia, an incision is made in the neck at the location of the blockage. The surgeon isolates the artery and surgically removes the plaque and diseased portions of the artery. Then, the artery is sewn back together to allow improved blood flow to the brain. The risks and benefits of CEA depend on your age, the degree of blockage, and whether you’ve had a stroke or TIA.
• Carotid artery stenting (CAS). Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a newer treatment option. It’s less invasive than carotid endarterectomy and is performed in a catheterization laboratory. With CAS, a small puncture is made in the groin. A specially designed catheter is threaded to the area of narrowing in the carotid artery. Once in place, a small balloon tip is inflated for a few seconds to open the artery. Then, a stent is placed in the artery and expanded to hold the artery open. A stent is a small, metal mesh tube that acts as a scaffold to provide support inside your artery. The stent stays in place permanently. CAS is a newer procedure, and there is still some controversy as to how well it prevents strokes caused by carotid artery disease.