Carotid angioplasty
What is it?
The procedure involves an ultrasound-guided puncture of the femoral or radial artery and the use of endovascular devices to reach the site under study. An angiographic study is performed and then, once the stenosis has been localized, a stent is released to keep the vessel open.
When is this procedure indicated?
Obstruction or narrowing of the carotid arteries can cause permanent or transient disorders to:
- motility;
- sensation (paresthesia);
- speech (aphasia);
- vision.
Diagnosis can be made from the outside with carotid echo-Doppler, an ultrasound probe.
How is it performed?
The operation is performed through the insertion under local anesthesia of thin cannulas at groin level and allows to remove obstructions in the carotid arteries that carry blood to the brain.
As an alternative to traditional surgery, it is possible to widen the narrowing from the inside through the application of balloons and stents. Because of the risk of embolism that can be caused by detachment of the material that makes up the narrowing, these surgeries are often performed with the use of protective filters that collect and carry the embolized material to the outside, or proximal protection systems with occlusion balloons in the common and external carotid arteries.
Narrowing of the carotid arteries routinely occurs at the level of the neck where the arteries bifurcate.
Recovery
The length of stay is usually 3 days.
Short-term complications
Stroke, TIA, stent thrombosis.
Long-term complications
Intra-stent restenosis.
Are you interested in receiving the treatment?