I have narrowing of the arteries in my neck. What could have caused this?
The carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, bring blood and oxygen to the brain. Deposits of fat (plaque) can build up in these arteries. This is called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
Plaque can cause one or both of the carotid arteries to become narrowed. This is a condition known as stenosis.
I’ve been told I have to have surgery – an endarterectomy. How can this help?
Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove plaque from the carotid arteries. Removing the plaque helps widen the artery, allowing blood to flow freely to the brain.
Carotid endarterectomy is a procedure which aims to reduce the risk of stroke. Endarterectomy is especially protective for people who have already had a stroke, and for people who are at high risk for stroke or who have already been diagnosed with significant narrowing.
The presence of plaque in the carotid arteries is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke, which represents 80 per cent of all strokes.
A stroke can be either ischemic (an interruption of blood flow in a narrowed carotid artery) or hemorrhagic (bleeding in the brain). Some people at high risk for ischemic stroke experience a range of symptoms which can occur periodically and last from minutes to up to 24 hours, and then resolve. These are called transient ischemic attacks or TIAs.
Symptoms can include numbness, muscle weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body.
Speech or vision problems may also occur as can confusion, lightheadedness and fainting spells. Loss of balance with difficulty walking, poor co-ordination or severe headache may also develop.
What will the procedure involve?
The endarterectomy procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic and takes about an hour. A small incision is made in the neck below the jaw to expose the carotid artery.
Blood that normally flows through the artery is rerouted via a tube (shunt) connecting the vessels below and above the surgical site. The carotid artery is opened and the plaque deposits removed.
If the carotid artery is found to be very narrow or damaged, a graft using a vein from the patient’s leg may be created and stitched onto the artery to repair it. The shunt is then removed and the wound is closed.
