Most common cause of carotid artery stenosis is Atherosclerosis which causes a plaque to form within the wall of carotid artery. Generally it is a age related degenerative change and other non modifiable risk factors like Type II Diabetes, Hypertension can aggravate the disease process. Smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity are the modifiable risk factors which aggravate the progression of atherosclerotic changes and thus causing Carotid Artery Stenosis.
With reduction of calibre of the major blood vessels that supply to brain the demand for oxygen supply to brain decreases. When the stenosis is less it can cause temporary symptoms like transient ischemic attacks (TIA) of the brain, spinal cord and retina and often the early indicator before a Major brain stroke.
What is Carotid endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a Neurosurgical procedure done to correct the stenosis(narrowing) of the Internal Carotid Artery(Chief blood supply) to the brain to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke of the brain.
It is surgery done in the neck at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery where the main blood supply to brain (Internal carotid artery) originates. The artery is opened at the area of stenosis and the atherosclerotic plaque is completely removed followed by closure of the artery with fie sutures. The results were very good if this procedure was done under high magnification in Modern Neuromicroscopes
Why Carotid Endarteretomy
The North American Symptomatic Carotid endarterectomy trail (NASCET) found that patients who have symptoms of stroke and high grade Carotid stenosis (>70% block) significant benefit from this surgery and there is almost 17% decrease in major brain strokes and 7% decrease in deaths due to major strokes. European Carotid Surgery trail (ECT), Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study (ACAS) and many other major trails were done and has established the usefulness of this surgery.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend patients with moderate to severe (50–99% blockage) stenosis, and symptoms, should undergo treatment at the earliest.
Why RIMC
We at Dr Rela Institute & Medical Centre strive to provide advanced Neurosurgical care by our Neurosurgery experts who are specially trained in this procedure and with availability of Worlds most advanced Neuro-Microscope, helps in making these surgeries more safe and thus early recovery of patients.
To know more about this procedure and know how we could help you please call +91 9384681770