Carotid Artery Surgery

Carotid artery surgery is a procedure to restore proper blood flow to the brain.

The carotid artery brings needed blood to your brain and face. You have one of these arteries on each side of your neck. Blood flow in this artery can become partly or totally blocked by fatty material called plaque. This can reduce the blood supply to your brain and cause a stroke.

There are 2 procedures to treat a carotid artery that has plaque buildup in it. This article focuses on a surgery called endarterectomy. The other method is called angioplasty with stent placement.

Alternative Names

Carotid endarterectomy; CAS surgery; Carotid artery stenosis - surgery; Endarterectomy - carotid artery

Description

During carotid endarterectomy:

You receive general anesthesia. You are asleep and pain free. Some hospitals use local anesthesia instead. Only the part of your body being worked on is numbed with medicine so that you do not feel pain. You are also given a medicine to help you relax.
You lie on your back on an operating table with your head turned to one side. The side your blocked carotid artery is on faces up.
The surgeon makes a cut (incision) on your neck over your carotid artery. A flexible tube (catheter) is put in the artery. Blood flows through the catheter around the blocked area during surgery.
Your carotid artery is opened. The surgeon removes the plaque inside the artery.
After the plaque is removed, the artery is closed with stitches. Blood now flows through the artery to your brain.
Your heart activity will be monitored closely during surgery.

The surgery takes about 2 hours. After the procedure, your doctor may do a test to confirm that the artery has been opened.

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Why the Procedure is Performed

This procedure is done if your doctor has found narrowing or a blockage in your carotid artery. Your doctor will have done one or more tests to see how much the carotid artery is blocked.

Surgery to remove the buildup in your carotid artery may be done if the artery is narrowed by more than 70%.

If you have had a stroke or temporary brain injury, your doctor will consider whether treating your blocked artery with surgery is safe for you.

Other treatment options your doctor will discuss with you are:

No treatment, other than tests to check your carotid artery every year.
Medicine and diet to lower your cholesterol.
Blood-thinning medicines to lower your risk of stroke. Some of these medicines are aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), and warfarin (Coumadin).

Carotid angioplasty and stenting is likely to be used when carotid endarterectomy would not be safe.

Risks

Risks of anesthesia are:

Allergic reactions to medicines
Breathing problems

Risks of carotid surgery are:

Blood clots or bleeding in the brain
Brain damage
Heart attack
More blockage of the carotid artery over time
Seizures
Stroke
Swelling near your airway (the tube you breathe through)
Infection

Before the Procedure

Your doctor will do a thorough physical exam and order several medical tests.

Tell your health care provider what medicines you are taking, even medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.

During the 2 weeks before your surgery:

A few days before the surgery, you may need to stop taking medicines that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), clopidogrel (Plavix), naprosyn (Aleve, Naproxen), and other drugs like these.
Ask your doctor which medicines you should still take on the day of your surgery.
If you smoke, you need to stop. Ask your provider for help quitting.
Tell your doctor about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness you may have before your surgery.

Follow instructions on when to stop eating and drinking before surgery.

On the day of your surgery:

Take any medicines your doctor prescribed with a small sip of water.

Follow instructions on when to arrive at the hospital. Be sure to arrive on time.

After the Procedure

You may have a drain in your neck that goes into your incision. It will drain fluid that builds up in the area. It will be removed within a day.

After surgery, your doctor may want you to stay in the hospital overnight so that nurses can watch you for any signs of bleeding, stroke, or poor blood flow to your brain. You may be able to go home the same day if your operation is done early in the day and you are doing well.

Follow instructions on how to take care of yourself at home.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Carotid artery surgery may help lower your chance of having a stroke. But you will need to make lifestyle changes to help prevent plaque buildup, blood clots, and other problems in your carotid arteries over time. You may need to change your diet and start an exercise program, if your doctor tells you exercise is safe for you. It is also important to stop smoking.

References

Arnold M, Perler BA. Carotid artery. In: Cronenwett JL, Johnston KW, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 100.

Beaulieu RJ, Abularrage CJ. Carotid endarterectomy. In: Cameron JL, Cameron AM, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:811-818.

Brott TG, Howard G, Roubin GS, et al. Long-term results of stenting versus endarterectomy for carotid-artery stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(11):1021-1031. PMID: 26890472 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26890472.

Daly C, Rodriguez HE. Carotid artery occlusive disease. Surg Clin N Am. 2013;93(4):813-832. PMID: 23885933 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23885933.

Rosenfield K, Matsumura JS, Chaturvedi S, et al. Randomized trial of stent versus surgery for asymptomatic carotid stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(11):1011-1020. PMID: 26886419 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26886419.

SVN Task Force for Clinical Practice Guideline Members. 2009 clinical practice guideline for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). J Vasc Nurs. 2010;28(1):21-46. PMID: 20185077 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20185077.