Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting
Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting
In carotid angioplasty and stenting, a long hollow tube called a catheter is inserted in the femoral artery in the groin area. The catheter is then maneuvered through the arteries until it reaches the narrowing in the carotid artery in the neck. An umbrella-shaped filter is inserted beyond the narrowing to catch any plaque or debris that may break off during the procedure. Then, a tiny balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated to push the plaque to the side and widen the vessel. A small metal coil called a stent is inserted into the vessel. The stent serves as a scaffold to help prevent the artery from narrowing again.
At Advanced Vein & Vascular management, a team of dedicated specialists takes the time to listen and get to know your concerns; our doctors will tailor you with care and exactly listen to what you need. We dedicate our specialists to collaborate and provide safety, service and the care you need.
Our dedicated experts are constantly involved in research into carotid angioplasty and stenting treatment. At Advanced Vein and Vascular management, our vascular surgeons, neurosurgeons, and carotid surgeons perform carotid angioplasty and stenting to treat carotid artery disease, performing numerous operations annually.
Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting involves a protocol procedure. Firstly you will be sedated. Firstly you will be sedated, after which our doctor makes a puncture in the artery, generally the femoral artery in the groin area.
- A sheath is placed into the artery- You won’t feel the catheter passing through.
- Contrast material is injected into the carotid artery through the catheter, which gives a detailed view of your narrowed artery.
- A filter is placed in the artery to catch any debris that may break off from the narrowed area.
- A balloon tip is threaded into the narrowed area, which widens the vessel, a small metal mesh tube(stent) is placed in the newly opened container.
- Then the filter, sheath, catheter, and balloon are removed.
Carotid angioplasty and stenting procedure may be an appropriate stroke treatment for you if
- You have a carotid artery with a blockage of 70 % or more, especially if you had stroke symptoms.
- You already had a carotid endarterectomy and are experiencing new narrowing after surgery.
- The location of the narrowing is difficult to access with an endarterectomy.
- Carotid endarterectomy may be a better choice for you than angioplasty and stenting to remove the build-up of fatty deposits.
Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting Recovery
To avoid bleeding from where the catheter has been inserted, we generally prescribe lying for several hours either in our recovery area or hospital room. After the procedure, an ultrasound of your carotid artery can be done. Most likely, you will be discharged from the hospital within 24 hours after the procedure and after supervision from our doctor.
The catheter site may remain tender, swollen for a few days. There can be a small area of discoloration or a small lump in the size of the puncture. Dosage of acetaminophen may be recommended for discomfort. Heavy and strenuous activities for 24 hours should be avoided. The Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting recovery time is quite speedy, and you will be just fit to work in 3-4 days with our dedicated supervision and monitoring.
Carotid angioplasty and stenting aren’t always the appropriate procedure for everyone. Our doctors can determine if the benefits outweigh the potential risks.