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By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have severe narrowing of your carotid arteries (atherosclerosis), even if you don't have symptoms of stroke, you may be a candidate for carotid angioplasty and stenting. In some cases, traditional carotid surgery (carotid endarterectomy) may be advised to remove the buildup of plaques (fatty material) that is narrowing the artery. In other cases, angioplasty and stenting may be a better option.
Carotid angioplasty and stenting may be an appropriate stroke treatment or stroke prevention option if:
- You've had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA, or ministroke)
- You have a carotid artery with a 70 percent blockage or more, especially if you've had a stroke or stroke symptoms
- You aren't in good enough health to undergo surgery, for example, if you have severe heart or lung disease, had radiation for neck tumors, or if you've already had a carotid endarterectomy and experience new narrowing after surgery (restenosis)
- The location of the narrowing (stenosis) is difficult to access with endarterectomy
- Lanzino G, et al. Treatment of carotid artery stenosis: Medical therapy, surgery or stenting? Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2009;84:362.
- Greelish JP, et al. Carotid angioplasty and stenting. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Riles TS, et al. Cerebrovascular disease. In: Townsend CM Jr, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/130704983-4/0/1565/619.html?tocnode=54739952&fromURL=619.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..50068-X_3758. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Sacco RL, et al. Primary prevention of ischemic stroke. Stroke. 2006;37:577.
- Angioplasty and vascular stenting. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=angioplasty. Accessed April 10, 2009.
- Carotid artery disease. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/catd/catd_all.html. Accessed April 14, 2009.
