Carotid Artery Disease
The Carotid artery is one of the main arteries that supply blood to your brain. A build of plaque within the artery can lead to a narrowing of the artery. This is known as carotid artery disease and can increase your risk of having a stroke or transient ischaemic attack(TIA).
Carotid artery disease is often diagnosed when a patient presents with a stroke or TIA. An ultrasound helps to diagnose the condition which is followed up with a consultation with a vascular surgeon.
Treatments
Patients that present with a TIA or stroke and have a moderate to severe narrowing of the carotid artery are recommended for treatment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend a carotid endarterectomy. This surgery involves removing the plaque from the artery and should be performed within 2 weeks of when your symptoms started.