Carotid endarterectomy can reduce your risk of stroke
Blood travels to your brain through two carotid arteries on each side of your neck. Over time, plaque buildup can narrow the arteries and reduce or block blood flow to your brain. This condition, called carotid artery disease or carotid artery stenosis, increases your risk of experiencing a stroke.
A type of vascular surgery called carotid endarterectomy can be used to treat carotid artery disease and significantly reduce your risk of a stroke. It can also help prevent future strokes if you’ve ever had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke.
Treating carotid artery disease with carotid endarterectomy
A type of peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, occurs when atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in the arteries—narrows or blocks the carotids, leading to a stroke by disrupting blood flow to the brain. In other cases, if a blood clot forms from plaque in a carotid artery, it may break away and block an artery in the brain, which can cause a stroke.
During a carotid endarterectomy procedure, your surgeon removes the plaque in the arteries to restore blood flow to the brain and help reduce your risk of future strokes.
Who is a candidate for carotid endarterectomy?
If your provider thinks you may have carotid artery disease, they will check your carotid arteries to determine the extent of the blockage(s). Carotid endarterectomy may be right for you if you have a blockage of at least 50% and have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) or if you have a blockage of 70% or more, regardless of symptoms or complications.
Other procedures for carotid artery disease
There is another procedure that may be an option for you other than carotid endarterectomy surgery:
- Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), where your surgeon uses special equipment to reverse blood flow and inserts a stent to keep your narrowed artery open
Benefits of carotid endarterectomy
Treatments for carotid artery disease improve blood flow to your brain and reduce your risk of having a stroke.
You can improve the results of your carotid endarterectomy and further reduce your risk of stroke by making the following healthy lifestyle changes after your procedure:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
What to expect from carotid endarterectomy surgery
Before surgery
Your surgeon will perform a physical exam and may order tests to ensure you’re healthy enough to have surgery. To help you stay safe during and after carotid endarterectomy, you’ll need to take some important steps in the days and weeks leading up to the surgery. Your surgical team may recommend that you:
- Quit smoking
- Stop eating and drinking just before the surgery, according to your surgeon’s instructions
- Stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, as directed by your surgeon
Ask your surgeon which medicines you can take on the day of surgery. Be sure you know when to arrive at the hospital—a prompt arrival helps the process run smoothly—and where to go when you arrive. It’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member to accompany you so they can drive you to the hospital and take you home. You may be able to go home the same day after your procedure, but be sure to pack essential items for a hospital stay in case you need to spend the night.
During surgery
Carotid endarterectomy usually takes around two hours and is considered open surgery. That means your vascular surgeon will make an incision in your neck to access and treat your carotid arteries.
Here’s what happens when you have the procedure:
- You’ll receive general anesthesia to send you to sleep or a local anesthetic to numb the surgical area.
- Your surgeon will make a cut in the side of your neck to reach the narrowed carotid artery.
- Your surgeon places a catheter (a small tube) in the artery to divert blood around the blockage.
- After opening the artery, your surgeon removes the plaques to eliminate the carotid artery blockage.
- Once the plaques are out, your surgeon closes the artery using part of a vein or a synthetic patch.
After surgery
It is standard practice to stay overnight for observation so the team can monitor you for potential complications. It is common to stay overnight for observation so the team can monitor you for potential complications. In that case, you’ll likely go home the next day.
You can give yourself the best chance of a smooth recovery by following your surgeon’s instructions for when to resume normal activities, including working and driving. If your incision shows signs of infection, notify your surgeon right away.
Be sure to attend your follow-up appointment, where you may have a carotid ultrasound so your surgeon can check how well blood is flowing through the carotid artery.
Your throat may be sore after surgery, but it will improve. In the meantime, avoid eating foods that might irritate your throat. Your incision will be numb, but the feeling will return over time.
Find a location near you
If you need a carotid endarterectomy, you can trust the expertise of our teams at specialized locations across Central and North Texas. After your surgery, you can receive comprehensive follow-up care at one of our many convenient locations.
AccentCare - Fort Worth
3880 Hulen St , Fort Worth, TX, 76107
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Idabel, OK
4 SE Avenue A , Idabel, OK, 74745
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Mt Pleasant (Satellite)
1011 N Jefferson Ave , Mt Pleasant, TX, 75455
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Paris
875 S Collegiate Dr , Paris, TX, 75462
Baylor Scott & White Cardiac Surgery - Longview
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
Baylor Scott & White Liver Consultants of Texas - Longview
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
- Monday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Longview
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sulphur Springs
601 Airport Rd Ste 110, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482
Baylor Scott & White North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates - Sulphur Springs
601 Airport Rd Ste 110, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White Center for Advanced Surgery - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White Liver Consultants of Texas - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White Center for Thoracic Surgery - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75702
Baylor Scott & White Cardiac Surgery - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Touchstone Imaging Tyler
2019 Old Troup Hwy , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital
1814 Roseland Blvd Ste 100, Tyler, TX, 75701
Glen Oaks Hospital
301 Division St , Greenville, TX, 75401
Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital - Sherman
3601 N Calais St , Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White Urgent Care+ Sherman
4028 N Hwy 75 , Sherman, TX, 75090
- Monday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital Urgent Care - Tyler
8101 S Broadway Ave , Tyler, TX, 75703
- Monday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Texas Vascular Associates - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates Pediatrics - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 110, Greenville, TX, 75402
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402
- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Imaging Center - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 200, Greenville, TX, 75402
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Outpatient Rehabilitation - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 120, Greenville, TX, 75402
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 100, Greenville, TX, 75402
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Gastroenterology - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402
Baylor Scott & White Endoscopy Center - Sherman
1615 US-75 Ste B, Sherman, TX, 75090
Sherman Endoscopy Center
1615 N Hwy 75 , Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White Women's Care & Continence Center - Sherman
260 E Evergreen St , Sherman, TX, 75090
- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sherman Sycamore (Satellite)
203 E Sycamore St , Sherman, TX, 75090
Texas Vascular Associates - Sherman
230 E Sycamore St Ste 105, Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - Sherman
230 E Sycamore St Ste 205, Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Sherman
230 E Sycamore St Ste 205, Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care – Sherman Highland (Satellite)
300 N Highland Ave , Sherman, TX, 75092
Baylor Scott & White Digestive Diseases Group - Sherman
204 Medical Dr Ste 240, Sherman, TX, 75092
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care - Van Alstyne
250 N Collin McKinney Pkwy , Van Alstyne, TX, 75495
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Anna
601 S. Ferguson Pkwy Ste 100, Anna, TX, 75409
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Royse City
594 W Interstate 30 , Royse City, TX, 75189
- Monday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Anna
450 N Standridge Blvd , Anna, TX, 75409
Baylor Scott & White Digestive Diseases Group - Anna
450 N Standridge Blvd Ste 104, Anna, TX, 75409
Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Royse City
6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates - Royse City
6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Surgical Institute - Royse City
6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189
- Monday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - McKinney Red Bud
1705 W University Dr Ste 119, McKinney, TX, 75069
Baylor Scott & White Institute For Rehabilitation - McKinney Lake Forest
1705 W University Dr Ste 119, McKinney, TX, 75069
Baylor Scott & White Institute For Rehabilitation - McKinney University
1705 W University Dr Ste 119, McKinney, TX, 75069