Risks Within 24 Hours of Carotid Artery Surgery
Every person has two carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck. These supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain and when one, or both, become clogged with fatty material known as plague, the risk of stroke increases. Your doctor can determine the proper procedure to be used to correct blockage, both of which have serious post-surgery risks.
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Symptoms
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Although your doctor may diagnose blockage of the carotid arteries during a routine check-up, there are a variety of symptoms one can watch for. They include:
Numbness or tingling in the arm or leg
Slurred speech
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Types of Surgery
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If the blockage in the carotid artery is severe enough, surgery will likely be necessary. The two common types of surgical procedures are:
Endarterectomy: the surgical procedure where the doctor opens the carotid artery and removes the plague. The patient is placed under general anesthesia for this surgery.
Angioplasty: a procedure where the surgeon expands the blocked artery, usually with a stent launched from a small incision in the groin area. This procedure is less evasive than endarterectomy, normally allowing the patient to be awake during the process.
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Prior to Surgery
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Removing the plaque from the carotid arteries is essential for preventing a stroke or heart attack. A review of all medications being taken prior to surgery will be done by the surgeon, some of which may have to be discontinued temporarily. Your doctor will also review your overall health, weight and nicotine use before you are cleared for surgery.
Post-Surgery Complications
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The first 24 hours after surgery are critical. The most important risk is experiencing a stroke immediately following the procedure. Your doctor will monitor you closely for the following symptoms:
Transient Ischaemic Attack: this is sometimes referred to as a mini-stroke and can occur during the first few hours after surgery.
Stroke: the risk of post-operative stroke depends on the degree of blockage of the artery. Patients with 70 percent blockage or more are four times as likely to suffer a stoke after surgery, according to a report by the American Academy of Neurology.
Erratic blood pressure: variations in blood pressure after surgery is fairly common but must be monitored closely.
Nerve damage: although not a significant problem, the surgery itself can damage the nerves in the neck, which can affect movement of the tongue. Generally, these adverse side effects disappear within a few days.
Prognosis
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For the majority of patients, carotid artery surgery is rather uneventful and highly successful in preventing strokes, usually requiring a hospital stay of only a day or two. Following a successful 24 hours after surgery, it's up to the patient to follow doctor's orders for proper exercise and diet to reduce the risk of future problems.
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