Surgery Overview
Carotid endarterectomy is surgery to
remove
buildup in the
. During a carotid
endarterectomy:
- A small incision is made in the neck just below
the level of the jaw. The narrowed carotid artery is exposed.
- The
blood flow through the narrowed area may be temporarily rerouted (shunted).
Rerouting is done by placing a tube in the vessel above and below the
narrowing. Blood flows around the narrowed area during the
surgery.
- The artery is opened and the plaque is carefully removed,
often in one piece.
- A vein from the leg may be sewn (grafted) on
the carotid artery to widen or repair the vessel.
- The shunt is
removed, and the artery and skin incisions are closed.
For more information about making the decision to have
surgery, see:
Stroke: Should I Have Carotid Endarterectomy?
What To Expect After Surgery
The surgery often takes about an hour.
Recuperation includes spending a short time in the recovery room and may
include about 24 hours in the intensive care unit to watch for
complications.
The hospital stay usually is 1 to 3 days. And
normal activities can be resumed within a week as long as the activities are
not physically demanding. There may be some aching in the neck for up to 2
weeks. It is important not to turn your head too often or too quickly during
your recovery.
Why It Is Done
Your doctor may suggest that you have this surgery if:
- You have had a mild or one or more (TIAs) in the past 6
months and you have 70% or more narrowing in your
carotid artery.
- You have a low risk of complications from the
surgery.
- You have 50% to 69% narrowing and have had at least one of
the following:
- One or more TIAs in the past 6 months.
- A series of small strokes in the past 6 months, and each small
stroke has left you a little more disabled.
- A mild or moderate
stroke in the past 6 months.
How Well It Works
You are most likely to benefit from surgery if you
have had symptoms and if your carotid artery is narrowed by 70% or more. People with less than 50% narrowing do not
seem to benefit from surgery.1
Carotid endarterectomy is more effective
than treatment with medicine alone in preventing stroke for people who have
symptoms that can be attributed to a 70% to 99% blockage of the carotid
arteries.2