Carotid angioplasty and stenting can help open up blocked carotid arteries. It’s often used to help prevent strokes, and your doctor might recommend it if you have a blocked artery.
If you’re feeling sudden weakness and numbness, dizziness, or trouble speaking, you may have a blocked artery. This happens when plaque has built up in your arteries over time, affecting blood flow. Sometimes, a blocked artery doesn’t cause any symptoms, but it does increase your risk of stroke.
Your doctor may suggest a procedure called a carotid angioplasty and stenting. This allows them to place a stent, which opens up the artery to improve blood flow to your face, neck, and brain.
Read on to learn more about what a carotid angioplasty is and what to expect from the procedure.
Carotid angioplasty is a procedure that can help open up blocked carotid arteries. These are the arteries located along both sides of the neck. They carry oxygen-rich blood to the brain and face.
During the procedure, a doctor will place a stent in the carotid arteries. This is a small, mesh tube that can open up certain parts of the body.
The procedure is usually performed with a local anesthetic and is considered a minimally invasive way to help treat carotid artery disease.
- symptoms from a blocked carotid artery
- a carotid artery that is more than 70% blocked
- a high surgical risk
A carotid endarterectomy is another procedure that doctors can use to address blocked carotid arteries. In this procedure, doctors open the carotid artery and remove the plaque causing the blockage.
This surgery involves a cut in the neck, which is not necessary with a carotid angioplasty. Because a carotid angioplasty is
A carotid endarterectomy has a
Both procedures have similar long-term success rates. They have
To perform a carotid angioplasty, the doctor will insert a catheter into an artery in your groin or arm. A catheter is a thin, flexible tube. Using ultrasound guidance, they will thread the catheter up to the carotid artery.
At this point, they will inflate a small balloon at the end of the catheter. This pushes the plaque to the side and widens the artery.
They can then insert a stent to hold the artery open. Finally, they deflate the balloon and remove it along with the catheter, leaving only the stent behind.
Carotid angioplasty can result in hyperperfusion or excessive blood flow to the brain. Although this is rare, it
After you undergo a carotid angioplasty, you’ll need to lie still for a while. You may also need to spend the night at the hospital for monitoring.
Once you’re released from the hospital, it’s important to follow your doctor’s directions for caring for the incision site. You should try to avoid strenuous activity and driving until your doctor says it is safe, and you might need to take some time off work.
A 2016 study placed the success rate of carotid artery stenting at 95%. Additionally, the risk of stroke over 10 years was 6.9%.
You should contact a doctor if you:
- develop a fever or other signs of infection following your procedure
- have vision changes or a sudden headache
- have bleeding or swelling at the incision site that does not improve
- experience numbness or weakness in any part of your body
- have difficulty speaking or seeing clearly
You should also notify your doctor if your previous symptoms return. This can be a sign that a new blockage has formed in your arteries.
Carotid angioplasty is a procedure used to open up blocked carotid arteries. During this procedure, a doctor will guide a catheter through your body to the blockage. They will then place a stent to help open the artery.
This procedure is considered minimally invasive and may be used to reduce your risk of stroke.