Question 1

can you be too old to have carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: Age is relative. If a high functioning person has a TIA (mini-stroke) or a full blown stroke with carotid artery narrowing > 50%, then offering carotid surgery is an option. Poor cardiac function ( a bad heart ) is a contraindication for general anesthesia, however there are other options such as carotid stenting or an awake carotid endarterectomy using a nerve block.

Question 2

what is recovery time after carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

Carotid surgery: It is generally a one or two day hospitalization and several weeks at home after that depending on your recovery process and your surgeons instructions.

Question 3

at what usual age are you too old for carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

Controversial.: Age by itself is not a contraindication for carotid artery surgery. More important are that person's risks, such as heart disease and such. A more interesting question is whether or not one would benefit from carotid artery surgery, and this is a very controversial topic within my field. There is little to suggest there is an absolute age cutoff, however. Discuss with a vascular surgeon.

Question 4

what is the definition or description of: carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

Surgery of carotid: There are different kinds of carotid artery surgery.  The most common, however, is called a carotid endarterectomy.  This is done for carotid artery stenosis (blockage).  The artery is opened and the blockage is carefully removed and the inside of the artery is cleaned up.  The vessel is then often closed with a patch to make it a little larger.

Question 5

at what age are you considered too old for carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

Age/carotid surgery: I don't think there is an age limit. Many factors besides age come into play when considering any surgery. Carotid artery stenting has certainly allowed older patients to have carotid blockages corrected but at a somewhat higher risk for stroke.

Question 6

if i had carotid artery surgery, what is the expected recovery time?

Accepted Answer

Fast: Really depends if you have pre or post procedure stroke or mini stroked which should be unusual . Most probably of everything goes well you can be home next day of surgery and active going to work within a week if pain is controlled

Question 7

what are complications that can happen during carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

See below: Carotid endarterectomy is a very safe procedure when performed by an experienced vascular surgeon.  That said, complications that can occur duing the procedure include neurological injury, cranial nerve injury, bleeding and complications of anesthesia.  These are all quite rare but can occur.  Never be afraid to ask the surgeon what his/her complication rate is!

Question 8

what are the side effects of carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

Numbness: The most common post-op complaint is actually incisional numbness as well as numbness over the jaw bone of the operated side. Male patients have to be careful when shaving post-op. Pain is surprisingly not a common complaint, or at least manageable. Risks of a carotid endarterectomy include bleeding, nerve injury, stroke and heart attacks- the risk of any major adverse event should be around 2-3%.

Question 9

what is the recuperation for carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

2-6 weeks: If it was done for patient with no neurological deficit then two weeks to go back to light duties and probably six weeks for full activity.

Question 10

can statin drugs reduce need for carotid artery surgery?

Accepted Answer

Rumors exist: There is definitely evidence that the use of statins reduces the incidence of strokes and heart attacks. There have been isolated reports of carotid plaque (narrowing) shrinking with the use of statins but this has not been found true for everybody. Most people agree that statins work by "stabilizing" the plaque and preventing it from rupturing and causing a stroke. This is a hotly debated topic.

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Doctor answers about:

How long does carotid artery surgery take

A member asked:

Can you be too old to have carotid artery surgery?

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What is recovery time after carotid artery surgery?

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At what usual age are you too old for carotid artery surgery?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: carotid artery surgery?

A member asked:

At what age are you considered too old for carotid artery surgery?

A member asked:

If i had carotid artery surgery, what is the expected recovery time?

A member asked:

What are complications that can happen during carotid artery surgery?

A member asked:

What are the side effects of carotid artery surgery?

A member asked:

What is the recuperation for carotid artery surgery?

A member asked:

Can statin drugs reduce need for carotid artery surgery?

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