Description
Meet Dr. Venkat Kalapatapu, professor and chief of vascular surgery at UAMS Health.
In this video, Dr. Kalapatapu explains carotid artery disease — what it is, why it matters, and how identifying and treating it early can prevent a stroke before it happens.
The most common problem in the carotid artery is a blockage. Beyond reducing blood flow, pieces of that blockage can break off, travel to the brain, and cause a stroke. In fact, carotid artery blockages account for roughly a quarter to a third of all strokes seen in the emergency room. The critical point, Dr. Kalapatapu emphasizes, is that carotid artery stenosis is treatable — and when caught before a stroke occurs, treatment can prevent one entirely.
Screening often begins at the primary care level, where a physician may listen to the carotid artery or order an ultrasound, particularly for patients with risk factors such as peripheral arterial disease or coronary artery disease.
Treatment options have evolved significantly over time. The gold standard remains surgical removal of the blockage, but minimally invasive options are now available as well. A stent can be placed in the carotid artery through a small needle puncture in the groin or a minor incision in the neck using a procedure called TCAR — Transcarotid Artery Revascularization — which has demonstrated excellent results with a low complication rate.
Learn more about carotid artery disease, how it is detected, and the advanced treatment options available at UAMS Health.
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Transcript
In the carotid artery, the most common problem is a blockage. This leads not only to decreased blood flow, but more importantly, pieces of that blockage can break off, travel into the brain, and cause a stroke.
About a quarter to a third of all strokes that arrive at the emergency room are caused by a carotid artery blockage. There are many other causes of stroke, but it is important to recognize carotid artery blockage — or carotid artery stenosis — because it is treatable. And if it is recognized before a stroke happens, we can prevent one. That is very important.
The way to identify carotid artery stenosis before it causes a stroke is often at the primary care level, where a physician will listen to the carotid artery or order an ultrasound — especially if the patient has risk factors such as peripheral arterial disease in the legs, coronary artery disease, or other heart problems. In almost all of those cases, patients receive an ultrasound of the carotid artery to look for a blockage.
Treatment options for carotid artery stenosis have changed over time. The gold standard remains surgically cleaning out the blockage. However, we now have newer, exciting options as well. Just as stents are placed in blood vessels of the heart and legs, we can place a stent in the carotid artery to open up the blockage and prevent a stroke. A carotid stent can be placed through a needle hole in the groin or a small incision in the neck using a procedure called TCAR — Transcarotid Artery Revascularization. TCAR is a highly effective method of placing a stent with excellent results and a low rate of complications.
