How to treat a blocked coratid arterry?

Historically this: Has been approached surgically, but there are some stents that are being utilized now.

Meds/Stent/Surgery!: First determine severity and symptom status. If no symptoms then blockage must be 80% or more to need anatomic fixing. If symptoms like stroke or TIA (little stroke), then any blockage over 50% should be considered for either stent or surgery. Either method in great hands yields similar results. All carotid patients should have risk eval and medical treatment with statins, aspirin, BP control, etc.

Depends on narrowing: If the carotid artery is completely blocked, there is no proven treatment. Eca/ica bypass study did not show efficacy. If the patient is symptomatic (i.e. Stroke in the carotid artery territory) with a greater than 70% stenosis treatment can either be carotid endarterectomy or stent placement, 50-70% stenosis there is less benefit. Treatment of asymptomatic disease is controversial.