What are the side effects of carotid artery surgery?

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%.

Stroke: Stroke, damage to nerves, bleeding and infection.

Side effects: These occurs rarely but the list includes death, heart attack, stoke, cranial nerve injury, bleeding, infection, and localized numbness near the site of the incision. Complication and side effect lists are almost always big and scary (read the list from any medication you have). Fortunately, in good hands, carotid surgery should be pretty safe.