What Is A Carotid Endarterectomy:
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Carotid Endarterectomy is a surgery intended as a prevention for stroke. The procedure corrects stenosis or narrowing of the common carotid artery. During the surgical procedure material is removed from the inside of the artery.
Reasons for Carotid Endarterectomy:
Carotid Endarterectomy is a surgical procedure. It is performed in response to a build-up of plaque in the carotid arteries caused by artherosclerosis. Plaque build-up generally occurs at the fork where the carotid artery splits; becoming the internal and external carotid arteries. The plaque builds up on what is referred to as the lumen. The buildup decreases the open area inside the artery or "narrows" the artery.
Emboli (which are pieces of the plaque buildup) can break off and travel up the internal carotid artery to the individual's brain. There it can both block circulation of the blood and cause the death of brain tissue.
In some patients the plaque buildup can result in symptoms that can indicate a problem and/or serve as a warning of the possibility for further damage. These "symptoms" are transitory or temporary strokes that last up to 24 hours. These temporary strokes are referred to as TIAs (transient ischemic attacks). If they last longer than 24 hours they are no longer TIAs but have become a stroke. Individuals with symptomatic stenosis are at the highest risk for stroke. They have a particularly high risk for stroke in the 48 hours following the TIA. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) offers guidelines in which it is recommended that patients with mild to severe stenosis with symptoms should immediately schedule an urgent endarterectomy (to be performed within 2 weeks). The definition of moderate to severe stenosis is any case that has 50 to 99% blockage.
Plaque buildup doesn't always result in identifiable symptoms. Patients who have buildup but are not experiencing symptoms are at a lower risk for stroke then those who have both plaque buildup and symptoms but at a higher risk than the general public. Incidence of stroke is 1 to 2% per year. (This includes incidents of fatal stroke). The surgical mortality rates of endarterectomy is between 1 and 10%. Clinical trials indicate that carotid surgery completed with a 30 day stroke and death risk of 3% or less will benefit asymptomatic patients with 60% or higher stenosis that are expected to live more than 5 years post-surgery. Some surgeons in the field believe that surgery is the best treatment for asymptomatic patients while other surgeons will recommend medication alone in response to an asymptomatic case.
Recovery time required for Carotid Endarterectomy:
Carotid Endarterectomy procedures involve a surgeon opening the artery and removing the plaque. Surgical risks apply and general health of the patient is a consideration that affects recovery time.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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