Overview

What is Carotid artery disease?

When a large artery on either side of your neck, the carotid artery, becomes clogged, the disease known as carotid artery stenosis develops. The blockage is made up of a substance called plaque (fatty cholesterol deposits). If plaque obstructs your carotid artery's regular blood flow, you have a higher risk of stroke. The term for plaque accumulation is atherosclerosis.

Your neck is made up of two carotid arteries, one on each side. These big arteries supply blood to your head, face, and brain. In a healthy state, these arteries are smooth and open, like a clear conduit that allows fluid to flow through it without restriction. Your body's circulatory system is a network of tubes that delivers blood, which is rich in nutrients and oxygen, to every part of your body.

Either one of the two neck arteries, or both, may develop carotid artery stenosis. Without treatment, this illness may get worse over time and result in a stroke with severe consequences that may even be fatal.

What are the symptoms of carotid artery disease?

It is possible that carotid artery disease will not always show symptoms in its early stages. It is likely that the illness won't show symptoms until it gets worse to the point where there is insufficient blood supply to the brain, which could lead to a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

An abrupt paralysis or numbness of the face or limbs can be the result of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), which often affects one side of the body.

Unexpected difficulty understanding words.
Abrupt blindness in one or both eyes.
Abrupt lightheadedness or unsteadiness.
An excruciating headache that comes on suddenly.

What causes carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease is caused by an accumulation of plaques, or fatty deposits, in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Plaques are clumps that form in the artery that include fat, cholesterol, and blood cells. This process is known as atherosclerosis.

Plaque blockage narrows the carotid arteries, making it difficult for the brain to receive oxygen and nutrients.

What is the diagnosis and test for carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery stenosis often gets diagnosed when the symptoms of stroke start to appear. The symptoms will give your doctor a clue about the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis, and for this very reason alone, a good search for any blockage must be carried out. It can also be identified when your doctor listens to your neck with a stethoscope and finds an abnormal sound known as bruit; it is a whistling or murmur. Medical tests confirm the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis and provide more detailed information about the location and degree of obstruction. Tests may include the following:

Ultrasonic- In this, the flow of blood and the pressure of the carotid arteries is researched.
MRI/CT scan-This can be suggestive of a remote history of a stroke or other abnormalities.
Either MR or CT angiography- These provide more details concerning carotid artery blood flow. With the use of contrast dye injected into a blood artery, these scans produce images of the brain and neck. Certain parts of the photos shine out because of the dye.

How may carotid artery stenosis be treated?

Treating carotid artery stenosis primarily aims to halt the disease's progression. This first means altering one's lifestyle to incorporate quitting smoking, eating a healthy food, and exercising frequently. Apart from medications that lower blood pressure and cholesterol, a baby's daily aspirin dosage may be used.

Your doctor may perform a surgical operation called a carotid endarterectomy to remove the plaque from the carotid artery through an incision in more severe cases, or cases causing symptoms of TIA or stroke. Alternatively, your surgeon may place a stent through a large puncture by using a needle and then advancing it through the obstructed artery. In this case, the artery will be completely open and the plaque will fall between the stent and the wall, out of the way of the blood flow. Depending on the patient's demands, a vascular surgeon or expert will choose the most appropriate approach for treating carotid disease.

Not every instance of carotid stenosis necessitates surgery or intervention because they are dangerous procedures in and of themselves. Surgeons only recommend procedures to patients when the risk of stroke or severe stenosis outweighs the benefit of the surgery.

Which Treatments Are Used for Carotid Artery Disease?

If the carotid artery is severely narrowed or blocked, then an angioplasty may be necessary. This will reduce the risk of a further stroke by restoring adequate blood flow to the brain. One of the following may be suggested by your physician:

Carotid endarterectomy- This has been the standard treatment for patients with carotid atherosclerosis, TIAs, and mild strokes. Under general anesthesia, an incision is made in your neck and the obstruction is removed. The surgeon dissects the artery and performs the surgery to take out the plaque and diseased parts of the artery. It is then stitched up again to let in more blood supply into your brain. The advantages and risks of CEA depend on your age, the severity of the stenosis and whether you have had a TIA or stroke.
Carotid artery stenting-Carotid artery stenting is another more modern form of treatment (CAS). This procedure, which is less invasive than carotid endarterectomy, is carried out by catheterization laboratories. When utilizing CAS, a small incision is made in the groin. The carotid arteries narrowing portion is punctured using a catheter of a certain type. To open the artery, a small balloon tip is inserted and briefly inflated. Subsequently, a stent is placed into the artery and expanded to preserve its aperture. A stent is a tiny tube that acts as an inside scaffold to support your artery. The stent is often made of metal and is permanent. It could potentially consist of a material that progressively absorbs into the body. Certain stents contain medication to help prevent re-occlusion of the artery. It is currently unclear how well CAS, a more modern intervention, works to prevent strokes caused by carotid artery disease. Research suggests that the traditional CEA may not be as dangerous as CAS, which may raise the chance of stroke or death following the procedure.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for carotid artery disease?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most skilled professionals in the country. With the finest vascular surgeons specialized in carotid artery disease. Tender Palm stands out as the one of the best hospital for vascular surgeries in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.