Carotid stenosis is the narrowing (stenosis) of the main blood vessels in the neck (carotid arteries) that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain (internal carotid arteries) and to the neck, face, and scalp (external carotid arteries). Left untreated, carotid stenosis can lead to a stroke with long-term brain damage.
Also called carotid artery disease, carotid stenosis is caused by the accumulation of plaque along the artery walls (atherosclerosis). These deposits are created by fat, cell wastes, cholesterol and other material that cling to the inside surface of the artery.
Certain risk factors increase your chance of developing carotid artery disease:
Carotid stenosis often does not have any symptoms. But when it does, the signs are associated with either a transient ischemic attack (sometimes called a mini-stroke) or a stroke:
If you or someone you know are experiencing these stroke symptoms, get emergency medical help right away.
A transient ischemic attack is a temporary (transient) loss of adequate blood flow to an area (ischemic).
Our general practitioner may be able to listen to the blood flow in your carotid artery with a stethoscope and hear a bruit, a whooshing sound caused by blood circulating through a narrowed blood vessel.
Along with your medical history and a physical exam, your doctor may order imaging tests to help give an accurate diagnosis:
Located in the NY tri-state area, NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery (NSPC) (NSPC) has cerebrovascular and endovascular specialists experienced in surgically treating conditions such as carotid artery disease.
Our vascular specialists are experts in carotid stenosis surgeries:
Carotid Endarterectomy is a traditional surgery to remove the plaque in a carotid artery. A small incision is made in the neck at the blocked or narrowed artery. The surgeon removes the plaque from the lining of the artery, and the vessel is stitched closed.
Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting is a minimally invasive procedure to reduce the risk of stroke from carotid stenosis:
NSPC has a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons skilled at employing the most up-to-date procedures to treat carotid stenosis. We have offices conveniently located on Long Island and in the NYC metro region, along with New York’s Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Neuroendovascular Center
NSPC provides world-class care for cerebrovascular conditions such as brain aneurysms, cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), stroke, and carotid stenosis. Our neuroendovascular surgeons are experienced in minimally invasive procedures and traditional surgeries — so you have the best treatment options available.
For over 50 years & 350,000 patients NSPC has been a trusted global medical leader.
Contact us today for an appointment or consultation.