Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting

This procedure improves blood flow in a neck artery that's clogged with plaque. You have two carotid arteries, one on each side of your neck. They supply blood to your brain. When blood can't get through these arteries, you can have a stroke.

Preparation

To begin, we give you medicine to make you feel relaxed. To get to the blocked artery, we enter through an artery in your groin or arm. Often we choose the femoral artery. We make a small opening in this artery and protect it with a sheath.

Inserting the Catheter

Then, we push a catheter into it. With the help of a video x-ray device called a "fluoroscope" we guide the catheter to your carotid artery. We inject a contrast material through the catheter to give us a better view.

Angioplasty

To treat the narrowing, we first put a filter just beyond the plaque. It catches any pieces of plaque that break off. Then, we push a balloon-tipped catheter into it. We inflate the catheter's balloon to press against the plaque and widen the artery.

Stenting

If your artery is at risk for narrowing again, we place a stent inside it. The stent is a small mesh tube that expands. It holds open the walls of your artery. It stays in your artery permanently.

End of Procedure

When the procedure is done, we remove the filter, catheter and sheath. A small bandage is placed on your skin. You're watched in a recovery room as the medicine wears off. Follow your care plan for a safe recovery.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.