Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting

For some patients, carotid endarterectomy may be considered too risky because of the location of the stenosis (narrowing), or the patient's health. People with severe heart or lung disease; those who have had neck operations or radiation for neck tumors; and those who have already had carotid endarterectomies may not be good candidates for carotid endarterectomy. In those cases, carotid angioplasty and stenting may be a better alternative. Carotid angioplasty and stenting is not the best first choice for treating carotid disease, but is an excellent alternative for those who shouldn’t have surgery.

Carotid angioplasty is relatively straightforward and minimally invasive. A catheter is inserted in the groin artery. It is then threaded through the arteries to the narrowed carotid artery. A tiny balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated to open the narrowed area. Once the area is widened, a slender metal tube, called a stent, is inserted. The stent expands inside the carotid artery to increase blood flow.

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