The function of Carotid Arteries is to carry blood to the face and brain; they are situated at the either sides of the neck. Carotid artery disease occurs when the lining of the internal carotid artery becomes thin due to deposits of bad cholesterol or triglycerides which in common parlance is called plaque or fatty deposits. The process of thinning or narrowing of carotid artery is called as atherosclerosis.
The narrowing of or shrinking of carotid arteries is constant and gradual process, due to the accumulation of fatty deposits mainly due to uncontrolled blood pressure or unmanaged diabetes. The shrinking of the walls of the artery cut the fatty deposits into small bits which in turn lead to blood clots. These blood clots may eventually change the levels or pattern of blood supply to the brain which it may actually need for functioning normally. This disruption of blood supply leads to a stroke. The cut in blood supply to the brain may be permanent or temporary. The risk of performing a traditional heart surgery or carotid endarterectomy to remove the blocks may always not be appropriate or feasible considering the prognosis .
Carotid angioplasty is one of the most commonly used procedures to treat plaque-infested or jammed arteries to let the blood flow normally to the brain, scalp and face areas. It is often used as alternative to traditional forms of heart surgery. It is a very simple procedure where a balloon of a minimal size is blown or inflated to clear the jammed artery; the shrunk artery regains its normal shape and size. To retain the size of the artery a metal coil or a round mesh made of stainless steel which is called a stent is placed in the jammed artery which acts as an upright support to keep it open, and prevent further shrinking which leads to restoration and normalization of blood feed to the brain. The balloon is eventually deflated and taken off once the stent settles itself in the desired place. A monitor is used to ascertain the brain function and vital information such blood pressure and brain activity during the whole procedure. The blocks are detected through fluoroscopy which involves sending a dye into the arteries which cannot filter the x-rays and pin points the blockages. The whole procedure lasts around 40 minutes to 2 hours.
Carotid artery angioplasty with stent insertion reduces the risk of occurrence of strokes further. This is a safe and tested procedure which minimizes the stay time of the patients in the Hospital. The recovery is more faster if the patient adheres to the diet and exercise regimen suggest by the surgeon.
The pre medical screening before Carotid angioplasty and stenting procedure involves getting usually a CT scan or MRI or an angiogram to assess the percentage of blocks present in the artery.
KIMS Hospitals Hyderabad has a dedicated team with thorough and professional expertise in performing Carotid angioplasty. Team KIMS ensures hassle free recovery from the process by constantly evaluating and monitoring the patient to avoid any complications arising out of the procedure which are usually rare or neglible.