Minimally Invasive Procedure for Carotid Arteries
Breakthrough Clears Blockages and Reduces Risk of Stroke
Stroke Warning Signs
- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Confusion or dizziness
- Trouble speaking or understanding
- Problems seeing in one or both eyes
- Difficulty walking, loss of balance or loss of coordination
- Severe headache with no known cause
- Trouble swallowing
Call 911 immediately if you experience any of these early warning signs.
April 2006 — Angioplasty with stenting is a cardiac catheterization procedure that enables thousands of patients each year to "bypass" having bypass surgery.
Now a similar procedure performed in the carotid arteries of the neck allows patients to have stroke-prevention treatment without major surgery. Hoang Duong, MD, and Laszlo Miskolczi, MD, interventional neuroradiologists on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Miramar and Memorial Hospital Pembroke, perform the innovative procedure at Memorial Cardiac & Vascular Institute.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Alternative
Approximately one-third of all strokes occur when the carotid arteries, the major arteries in the neck which carry oxygen-rich blood to the brain, become clogged and restrict blood flow.
Carotid stenting with certain devices is FDA-approved for patients who are poor candidates for surgery, who have a blockage of 70 percent or more and who are experiencing symptoms of a pending stroke, such as weakness, difficulty speaking or temporary loss of vision.
Doctors may not recommend surgery for those who have already undergone carotid endarterectomy (a surgical procedure to manually remove blockages in the carotid artery) and have a new blockage, who have post-radiation narrowing or who have blockages that are difficult to access.
Carotid artery stenting is a minimally invasive procedure that requires only a small incision in the groin, where a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted and threaded up to the neck. The balloon is inflated to compress fatty tissue and to open up the artery, while an accompanying filter, or cerebral protection device, catches and removes pieces of plaque. Then a cylindrical, mesh-like stent is inserted into the newly expanded artery to prop it open.
One Patient's Experience
Larry Solomon recently learned how easy carotid artery stenting can be. A few weeks earlier, he had become sick while working in his Hollywood UPS Store. "I felt nauseated, clammy and faint," he remembers.
He was rushed to the hospital, where a 90- to 95-percent blockage in his left internal carotid artery was found. "It was shocking. I thought I was in good health," says the slender, 61-year-old businessman, who does not smoke and eats a reasonable diet.
Larry was referred to Dr. Duong, who explained carotid artery stenting and encouraged him to consult a surgeon, as well, regarding endarterectomy. When Larry learned that the configuration of arteries in his brain would increase his risk for stroke during surgery, he opted for the less-invasive treatment.
Six days after the treatment, he was back on the job. "I was a little sore for a couple days, but that was all. I feel great," says Larry. He also was very pleased with Dr. Duong. "I've been in this community for a long time, and I have not met another doctor who was so reachable and took so much time explaining everything. I really appreciated it."
An Exciting Future
"The results of carotid stenting appear to be as good as surgery. We think most people will receive stenting as primary treatment when ongoing clinical trials comparing carotid stenting with carotid endarterectomy - the 'gold standard' for carotid artery disease - are completed," says Greg Zorman, MD, Chief of Staff at Memorial Regional Hospital and neurosurgeon on the medical staff at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Miramar and Memorial Hospital Pembroke.
Additionally, Dr. Zorman feels that more patients will request the procedure because it requires no incision in the neck, recovery is quicker and there is little discomfort.
If you are concerned about your risk of stroke and would like a referral to a physician, call the Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.