What is Carotid Artery Occlusion and How Is It Treated?

Carotid artery occlusion, which is mainly caused by arteriosclerosis, is especially common after the age of 40 years. Occasionally, the artery may be injured after a trauma resulting from an impact to the artery.



Carotid artery occlusion may cause loss of vision, impaired speech, impaired cooperation, paralysis such as inability to move arms or legs or both. The patient may develop facial paralysis due to occlusion. All these may manifest themselves with symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

Carotid artery occlusion may lead to two types of symptoms:

•   Because there isn't enough blood supply to the occluded region of the brain, the activities of that region are disrupted,
•   A small clot forms at the site where blood flow is disrupted because of the stenosis or a piece becomes detached from the accumulated fat causing the stenosis and occludes a vein in the brain and the region of that occluded vein becomes paralyzed.

 

How to Diagnose?

After clinical examination, imaging methods are used for diagnosis. Doppler imaging, MR angiography, CT angiography may be performed. However, the most accurate result is obtained by angiography.
 

How stenting is performed in carotid artery occlusion?

Stenting is performed by introducing a catheter through the groin. The catheter is advanced to the carotid artery and the umbrella in closed state on the tip of the catheter is opened after the stenosis is passed.
 

What are the advantages of stenting?

The patient can return to daily life with 1-day hospital stay without the need for anesthesia.