Carotid Artery Disease
Team-based Approach
A Stroke is a major neurological event that can have a devastating effect on an individual's daily function and quality of life. A large proportion of strokes are ischemic in nature (the other major form being hemorrhagic). A certain percentage of ischemic strokes occur due to atheroembolic disease originating from the carotid arteries.
Embolic complications from carotid stenosis range from transient ischemic attacks (sometimes called TIAs or mini-strokes) that result in temporary loss of function (visual, speech, sensory, or motor) to more serious strokes that may result in permanent impairment.
The management of carotid stenosis involves a team-based approach that includes Neurology, Vascular Surgery, and sometimes Interventional Radiology and Neurosurgery, among others. In eligible patients, the gold-standard treatment involves a carotid endarterectomy, in which the atherosclerotic plaque is surgically removed and the artery repaired. Studies confirm that patients with carotid-related TIAs have the greatest benefit if operated on within the first 14 days after the initial insult.
Please see your doctor for urgent assessment should you experience any symptoms suggestive of a stroke, as early management has been shown to result in improved outcomes.