Endovascular Carotid Stenting
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionAn endovascular carotid stent is a mesh tube that is placed in a blood vessel in the neck. The stent will help to prop open the blood vessel and improve blood flow to the brain. Reasons for ProcedurePlaque can build up on blood vessel walls. It can slow or block the flow of blood. The carotid artery supplies blood to the brain. Poor blood flow through the carotid can cause damage to the brain and lead to a stroke. The stent improves blood flow to the brain and lowers the risk of stroke. Possible ComplicationsProblems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review some problems that may happen, such as:
Before your procedure, talk to your doctor about ways to manage factors that may increase your risk of problems, such as:
What to ExpectPrior to ProcedureThe doctor will review any tests that were already done. An ECG may be done if you haven’t had one recently. Follow these steps leading up to the procedure:
AnesthesiaYou will have local anesthesia. It will numb an area in the groin. Description of the ProcedureAn incision will be made in your groin. A hollow needle will be inserted into a blood vessel in your groin. The doctor will pass a long tube along the needle, into the blood vessel, then to the neck area. An x-ray machine will show the doctor where the tube is in your body. The image will appear on a monitor in the room. A dye will be passed through the tube. It will highlight blood vessels to make them easier to see. It will also show where there may be problems with blood flow. The doctor will find where the problem area is. A balloon may be passed through the tube. It is quickly opened and closed to push open the artery. The stent will then be passed through the tube. It will be put into place to hold the artery open. The doctor will be able to see if blood flow has improved. Once work is done, the tube will be slowly taken out. A bandage will be put on the incision. Immediately After ProcedureYou will need to lie flat for 2 to 6 hours. How Long Will It Take?It will take 1 to 2 hours. How Much Will It Hurt?Anesthesia will prevent pain during the procedure. You may have some discomfort when the tube is first inserted. The area will be sore for a few days after. Average Hospital StayYou may need to stay in the hospital overnight. Post-procedure CareAt the Care CenterThe staff will check on your progress until the anesthesia wears off. During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection such as:
There are also steps you can take to reduce your chances of infection such as:
At HomeStrenuous activities will need to be limited for 2 weeks. Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following OccursCall your doctor if any of these occur:
If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away. RESOURCES:American Heart Association http://www.heart.org National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke https://www.ninds.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Health Canada https://www.canada.ca Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada http://www.heartandstroke.ca References:Brott TG, Halperin JL, et al. 2011 ASA/ACCF/AHA/AANN/AANS/ACR/ASNR/CNS/SAIP/SCAI/SIR/SNIS/SVM/SVS guideline on the management of patients with extracranial carotid and vertebral artery disease: executive summary. Stroke. 2011 Aug;42(8):e420-63 full-text, correction can be found in Stroke 2011 Aug;42(8):e541.
Carotid angioplasty and stenting. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/carotid-angioplasty-and-stenting. Accessed July 19, 2020.
Carotid artery disease: carotid stenting. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16850-carotid-artery-disease-carotid-stenting. Accessed July 19, 2020. Carotid artery stenosis repair. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116305/Carotid-artery-stenosis-repair. Accessed July 19, 2020. Carotid artery stenting. British Society of Interventional Radiology website. Available at: https://www.bsir.org/patients/carotid-artery-stenting. Accessed July 19, 2020. Carotid stenting. UCSF Department of Surgery website. Available at: https://surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/carotid-stenting.aspx. Accessed July 19, 2020. Endovascular angioplasty with stenting (CAS). Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/cerebrovascular/treatment/carotid_angioplasty_with_stenting.html. Accessed July 19, 2020.
Last reviewed July 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Rimas Lukas, MD Last Updated: 7/19/2020 | |
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