Carotid Artery Disease
Stroke-prevention procedures that remove or open carotid blockages while protecting the brain.
Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA)
Carotid Endarterectomy is the traditional gold-standard open surgical procedure used to remove obstructive atherosclerotic plaque from the carotid artery:
Surgical Plaque Removal
Through a small incision on the side of the neck, the vascular surgeon temporarily clamps the carotid artery, opens the vessel, and meticulously strips away the plaque-laden inner lining (intima and media) from the common, internal, and external carotid arteries.
Vessel Closure with Patch Angioplasty
The artery is securely closed using a synthetic patch (e.g., Dacron or PTFE) or a natural patch (autologous vein or bovine pericardium) to prevent narrowing (stenosis) at the closure site.
Primary Indications
Recommended for symptomatic patients with 50% to 99% carotid stenosis, and selected asymptomatic patients with 70% to 99% stenosis.
Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR)
Transcarotid Artery Revascularization is an innovative, clinically proven hybrid procedure combining surgical neuro-protection with minimally invasive stenting:
Direct Common Carotid Access
A small, minimal-incision access is made directly into the base of the common carotid artery in the lower neck right above the collar bone.
Dynamic Flow Reversal (Neuro-Protection)
Prior to placing the stent, blood flow in the common carotid artery is temporarily reversed using a specialized circuit connected to the femoral vein. This directs any dislodged plaque debris away from the brain and into a filter, significantly reducing stroke risk.
Stent Deployment
A precise metal mesh stent is deployed across the carotid lesion under flow reversal conditions to restore open vessel diameter before restoring normal forward blood flow.
Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)
Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting is a percutaneous catheter-based intervention used when patients have specific anatomical or medical contraindications for open surgery or TCAR:
Percutaneous Transfemoral Access
A catheter is inserted through a vascular puncture in the femoral artery (groin) and navigated under fluoroscopic guidance through the aortic arch up to the internal carotid artery.
Downstream Embolic Filter Protection
A specialized distal embolic filter or occlusion balloon is placed downstream of the lesion prior to stent deployment to capture any circulating plaque fragments.
Self-Expanding Stent Deployment
A flexible metal mesh stent is deployed across the stenotic lesion to expand the vessel lumen and restore optimal cerebral perfusion.
Symptoms, risk factors & self-care for Carotid Artery Disease
Wondering if a procedure is right for you?
We will review your imaging, explain every option — including non-procedural care — and recommend what is safest for you.