Carotid Artery Disease

What are the carotid arteries?

Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the head and body. There are two carotid arteries (one on each side of the neck) that supply blood to the brain. The carotid arteries can be felt on each side of the lower neck, immediately below the angle of the jaw.

The carotid arteries supply blood to the large, front part of the brain, where thinking, speech, personality and sensory and motor functions reside.

The vertebral arteries run through the spine and supply blood to the back part of the brain (the brainstem and cerebellum).

What is carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease, also called carotid artery stenosis, is the narrowing of the carotid arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of cholesterol, fat and other substances traveling through the bloodstream, such as inflammatory cells, cellular waste products, proteins and calcium. These substances stick to the blood vessel walls over time as people age, and combine to form a material called plaque.

Plaque buildup can lead to narrowing or blockage in the carotid artery, reducing blood flow to the brain.

What are the risk factors for carotid artery disease?

The risk factors that have been linked to the development of atherosclerosis include:

• Family history of atherosclerosis (either carotid artery disease or coronary artery disease)
• Age: men under age 75 have a greater risk of devel- oping carotid artery disease than women, but after age 75, women have a greater risk than men
• High levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL, bad cholesterol) and triglycerides in the blood. However, this link is not as strong as it is for coronary artery disease.
• Smoking
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle

Typically, the carotid arteries become diseased a few years later than the coronary arteries. People who have coronary artery disease have a higher risk of developing carotid artery disease.

What are the symptoms?

There may not be any symptoms of carotid artery disease. However, there are warning signs of a stroke. A transient ischemic attack (also called TIA or "mini-stroke") is one of the most important warning signs of a stroke. A TIA occurs when a blood clot briefly blocks an artery that supplies blood to the brain. The following symptoms of a TIA, which are temporary and may last a few minutes or a few hours, can occur alone or in combination:

• Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
• Weakness and/or numbness on one side of the face, or in one arm or leg
• Slurred speech, difficulty talking or understanding what others are saying
• Loss of coordination
• Dizziness or confusion
• Difficulty swallowing

A TIA is a medical emergency, since it is impossible to predict if it will progress into a major stroke. If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, get emergency help (Call 9-1-1 in most areas). Immediate treatment can save your life or increase your chance of a full recovery.

TIAs are strong predictors of future strokes; a person who has experienced a TIA is 10 times more likely to suffer a major stroke than someone who has not experienced a TIA.

What is a stroke?

A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts. The brain cannot store oxygen, so it relies on a network of blood vessels to provide it with blood that is rich in oxygen. A stroke results in a lack of blood supply, causing surrounding nerve cells to be cut off from their supply of nutrients and oxygen. When tissue is cut off from its supply of oxygen for more than 3 to 4 minutes, it begins to die.

A stroke can occur if:

• The artery becomes extremely narrowed by plaque
• A piece of plaque breaks off and travels to the smaller arteries of the brain
• A blood clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery

A stroke also can occur as a result of other conditions, such as sudden bleeding in the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage), sudden bleeding in the spinal fluid space (subarachnoid hemorrhage), atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, or blockage of the tiny arteries inside the brain.

How is carotid artery disease diagnosed?

There may not be any symptoms of carotid artery disease. If you are at risk, it is important to have regular physical exams

A doctor will listen to the arteries in your neck with a stethoscope. An abnormal rushing sound, called a bruit (pronounced BROO-ee), may indicate carotid artery disease. However, bruits are not always present when there are blockages, and may be heard even when the blockage is minor.

Diagnostic tests include:

• Carotid duplex ultrasound: An imaging procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to view the carotid arteries to determine if there is narrowing.
• Carotid angiography (carotid angiogram, carotid arteriogram, carotid angio): During this invasive imaging procedure, a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm or leg, and guided to the carotid arteries with the aid of a special X-ray machine. Contrast dye is injected through the catheter while X-rays of the carotid arteries are taken. This test may be performed to evaluate or confirm the presence of narrowing or blockage in the carotid arteries, determine the risk for future stroke and evaluate the need for future treatment, such as angioplasty or surgery.
• Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA): MRA is a type of magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to provide pictures of the carotid arteries. In many cases, MRA can provide information that cannot be obtained from an X-ray, ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scan. This test can provide important information about the carotid and vertebral arteries and the degree of stenosis.
• Computerized tomography (CT Scan): a CT of the brain may be performed if a stroke or TIA is suspected to have already occurred. During a CT scan, X-rays pass through the body and are picked up by detectors in the scanner, which produce three-dimensional (3D) images on a computer screen. Depending on the type of scan you need, a contrast material might be injected intravenously (into a vein) so the radiologist can see the body structures on the CT image. This test may reveal areas of damage on the brain.
• Computed tomography angiogram (CTA): A test that uses advanced CT technology, along with intravenous (IV) contrast material (dye), to obtain high-resolution, 3D pictures of the carotid arteries. CTA images enable physicians to determine the degree of stenosis.

How is carotid artery disease treated?

Carotid artery disease is treated by:

• Making lifestyle changes
• Taking prescribed medications
• Having procedures as recommended

Lifestyle changes

To prevent carotid artery disease from progressing, these lifestyle changes are recommended by your doctor and the National Stroke Association:

• Quit smoking and using tobacco products.
• Control high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Have regular checkups with your doctor.
• Have your doctor check your lipid profile and get treatment, if necessary to reach a lipid goal of LDL less than 100 and HDL greater than 45.
• Eat foods low in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
• Achieve and maintain a desirable weight.
• Exercise regularly - at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Excessive alcohol use is defined as drinking more than three drinks per day. (One drink equals 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.)
• Manage other risk factors:
  --Find out if you have heart rhythm problems, such as atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of blood clots that can lead to stroke. If you have atrial fibrillation, you should take anticoagulant (blood-thinner) medications as prescribed.
  -- Talk to your doctor about circulation problems that can increase your risk for stroke.

Medications

• Anti-platelet medications: All patients with carotid artery disease should take an anti-platelet medication to reduce the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular disease complications. The most commonly used anti-platelet medication is aspirin.

• Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA): A clot-dissolving medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of strokes caused by blood clots (ischemic strokes). Eighty percent of all strokes are ischemic. T-PA only works if it is given within three hours of the start of stroke symptoms.

Treatment procedures

If there is severe narrowing or blockage in the carotid artery, a procedure must be performed to open the artery and increase blood flow to the brain, to prevent a future stroke. These procedures include carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting.

Carotid endarterectomy is the traditional surgical treatment for carotid artery disease. Carotid endarterectomy has been proven to be beneficial for symptomatic patients with a 50 percent or greater carotid stenosis (blockage) and for asymptomatic patients with a 60 percent or greater carotid stenosis.

Carotid endarterectomy can be performed under general anesthesia (the patient is asleep) or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. During the procedure, an incision is made in the neck at the site of the carotid artery blockage. The surgeon removes the plaque from the artery and when the plaque removal is complete, the surgeon stitches the vessel closed. Blood flow to the brain is restored through its normal path.

Carotid angioplasty and stenting has been FDA-approved as a treatment option for some patients with carotid artery disease. Please talk to your doctor to determine if you are eligible.

The carotid angioplasty and stenting procedure is performed while the patient is awake, but sedated. During the procedure, a balloon catheter is inserted through a sheath in a blood vessel. With X-ray guidance, the catheter is placed through the blood vessel and directed to the carotid artery at the site of the blockage or narrowing. A specially designed guidewire with a filter is placed beyond the area of blockage or narrowing.

Once in place, the balloon tip is inflated for a few seconds to open or widen the artery. The filter (called the embolic protection device) collects any debris that may break off of the blockage. A stent (a small mesh tube) is placed in the artery and opens to fit the size of the artery. The stent stays in place permanently and acts as a scaffold to support the artery walls and keep the artery open. After several weeks, the artery heals around the stent.

Research has shown that carotid stenting, when used with the embolic protection device, was as safe and effective as carotid endarterectomy in high-risk surgical patients.

Recovery from both the carotid endarterectomy and carotid angioplasty and stenting procedures generally requires a one-night hospital stay. Patients often return to regular activities within one to two weeks after these procedures.

Follow-up care

Your doctor will want to see you on a regular basis for a physical exam and possibly to perform diagnostic tests. Your doctor will use the information gained from these visits to monitor the progress of your treatment. Check with your doctor to find out when to schedule your next appointment.

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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 9/22/2008…#7152