CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS

CAROTID STENOSIS IS A NARROWING OF THE INNER LUMEN OF THE CAROTID ARTERY, USUALLY CAUSED BY A BUILDUP OF PLAQUE. THE PLAQUE CAN BUILD UP AND CAUSE A COMPETE BLOCKAGE. SOMETIMES SOLID PIECES CALLED EMBOLI CAN BREAK OFF AND TRAVEL THROUGHT THE BLOOD VESSELS TO THE BRAIN. THIS CAN RESTRICT OR BLOCK BLOOD FLOW TO THE BRAIN WHICH CAN LEAD TO A TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACH, OR A STROKE.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE WEAKNESS OR NUMBNESS TO A LIMB OR ONE SIDE OF THE BODY. LOSS OF SIGHT IN ONE EYE. ARTERY SOUNDS, AND RINGING IN THE EAR.

DIAGNOSES IS USUALLY DONE FROM EITHER A DUPLEX ULTRASOUND, A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAM , OR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ANGIOGRAM. SOMETIMES AN ANGIOGRAM IN THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PERFORMED.

TREATMENT FOR CAROTID STENOSIS INCLUDE ANTIPLATELET DRUGS. A PROCEDURE WHERE A CAROTID STENT IS PLACED. AND WHEN NEEDED, A SURGERY TO REMOVE THE AFFECTED AREA CALLED A CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY IS DONE.