Carotid artery stenting is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat carotid artery stenosis, which is the narrowing of the carotid arteries, the major blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain. This narrowing can increase the risk of stroke by restricting blood flow to the brain or by causing plaque to break off and travel to smaller blood vessels in the brain.
During carotid artery stenting:
Preparation: The patient is typically given local anesthesia, and a small incision is made in the groin or wrist to access the femoral or radial artery.
Insertion of the Catheter: A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into the artery and guided through the blood vessels to the carotid arteries using X-ray guidance.
Placement of the Stent: Once the catheter reaches the narrowed area of the carotid artery, a balloon-tipped catheter with a stent mounted on it is positioned across the blockage. The balloon is inflated, expanding the stent and pressing it against the artery walls. The stent remains in place to hold the artery open and improve blood flow.
Monitoring and Recovery: After the stent is successfully implanted, the catheter is removed, and pressure is applied to the insertion site to prevent bleeding. The patient is monitored closely for a short period before being discharged.
Carotid artery stenting is often used as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove plaque buildup from the carotid artery. It may be preferred in certain patients who are at higher risk for complications from surgery, such as those with significant medical comorbidities or previous neck surgery.