Q: how effective is a carotid endarterectomy for treating a stroke?

Prevents, doesn't tx: While it's semantics, carotid endarterectomy doesn't "treat" stroke as much as it's performed to prevent one. Success depends upon experience of surgeon &amp; operating team/hospital.

Q: hi doctors, was just wondering what is a carotid endarterectomy ?

Carotid artery surg.: A carotid endarterectomy is a surgery to "clean out" the carotid artery. Doctors do this if there is significant atherosclerosis buildup in the carotid artery, because reducing the buildup reduces the risk of stroke.

Q: how much time should it take to recover from a carotid endarterectomy operation?

Variable: 1 day to feel better, 6 weeks to full recovery.

Q: what was your recovery like after carotid endarterectomy: is stroke something that may happen ?

Safe operation : Endarterectomy is the gold standard for symptomatic carotid disease. It is safe and effective. Many surgeons have a 2% peri operative rate of stroke, less than 1% risk of peri operative death. There is some risk to nerves that control the voice box but should an injury occur it is usually temporary. The key is to ask your surgeon about his or her personal complication rates.

Q: how effective is carotid endarterectomy?

Very: We use the endpoint of stroke to define how effective carotid surgery is. Endarterectomy reduces the risk of stroke from 26% to 9% in patients with high grade stenosis (narrowing) who have had mini-strokes or strokes in the past. In people who have not suffered mini-strokes or strokes but have a high grade stenosis, endarterectomy reduces risk of stroke from 10% to less than 5%.

Question 1

carotid endarterectomy last monday for 77 % stenosis.still have fatigue and some vague headaches in back of head and temples. is this normal?how long?

Accepted Answer

The anesthetics: Should be long gone from your system by now, especially if this was done under local. You shouldn't be requiring significant pain medication at this point, either. Notify your surgeon of your complaints. He may want to examine you soon.

Question 2

can my artery reclog after carotid endarterectomy?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The recurrence rates after endarterectomy depend in a number of factors such as smoking, patch use for angioplasty and on going problems with managing the risk factors of peripheral vascular disease. Women may also be more likely to have recurrent disease.

Question 3

what does it mean to have carotid endarterectomy?

Accepted Answer

Clearing of Plaque: This is to surgically expose the carotid artery in the neck and to remove the plaque of the diseased artery.   Arteries have 3 layers. Plaque / atherosclerosis develops in the inner two layers. The outer layer is the strength layer.  These layers peel apart similar to the layers in an onion. Once cleared, the artery is closed using patch to prevent it from scarring down. The goal: prevent strokes.

Question 4

what is recovery like after carotid endarterectomy?

Accepted Answer

One Night Stay: Typically people spend one night in the intensive care unit before going home the next day. A sore throat is common as is numbness of the neck / chin / lip of the operated side. The numbness improves over 6 months.  Pain is surprisingly not the most common complaint. High or low blood pressure, the complication of stroke or a heart attack may keep a patient in the hospital longer.

Question 5

can a person have prophylactic carotid endarterectomy?

Accepted Answer

Depends: This all depends on what your definition of prophylactic means. If you mean "asymptomatic", then yes. We recommend a carotid endarterectomy for people who have a narrowing of >80% even if they have not had any symptoms. If you have carotid stenosis of <80%, the medical management with aspirin/plavix and a statin (cholesterol lowering med) is sufficient. An annual ultrasound for surveillance also.

Question 6

how effective is a carotid endarterectomy for treating a stroke?

Accepted Answer

Prevents, doesn't tx: While it's semantics, carotid endarterectomy doesn't "treat" stroke as much as it's performed to prevent one. Success depends upon experience of surgeon &amp; operating team/hospital.

Question 7

hi doctors, was just wondering what is a carotid endarterectomy ?

Accepted Answer

Carotid artery surg.: A carotid endarterectomy is a surgery to "clean out" the carotid artery. Doctors do this if there is significant atherosclerosis buildup in the carotid artery, because reducing the buildup reduces the risk of stroke.

Question 8

how much time should it take to recover from a carotid endarterectomy operation?

Accepted Answer

Variable: 1 day to feel better, 6 weeks to full recovery.

Question 9

what was your recovery like after carotid endarterectomy:  is stroke something that may happen ?

Accepted Answer

Safe operation : Endarterectomy is the gold standard for symptomatic carotid disease. It is safe and effective. Many surgeons have a 2% peri operative rate of stroke, less than 1% risk of peri operative death. There is some risk to nerves that control the voice box but should an injury occur it is usually temporary. The key is to ask your surgeon about his or her personal complication rates.

Question 10

how effective is carotid endarterectomy?

Accepted Answer

Very: We use the endpoint of stroke to define how effective carotid surgery  is. Endarterectomy reduces the risk of stroke from 26% to 9% in patients with high grade stenosis (narrowing) who have had mini-strokes or strokes in the past. In people who have not suffered mini-strokes or strokes but have a high grade stenosis, endarterectomy reduces risk of stroke from 10% to less than 5%.

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Doctor answers about:

Headache after carotid endarterectomy

A member asked:

Carotid endarterectomy last monday for 77 % stenosis.still have fatigue and some vague headaches in back of head and temples. is this normal?how long?

A member asked:

Can my artery reclog after carotid endarterectomy?

A member asked:

What does it mean to have carotid endarterectomy?

A member asked:

What is recovery like after carotid endarterectomy?

A member asked:

Can a person have prophylactic carotid endarterectomy?

A member asked:

How effective is a carotid endarterectomy for treating a stroke?

A member asked:

Hi doctors, was just wondering what is a carotid endarterectomy ?

A member asked:

How much time should it take to recover from a carotid endarterectomy operation?

A member asked:

What was your recovery like after carotid endarterectomy: is stroke something that may happen ?

A member asked:

How effective is carotid endarterectomy?

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