Carotid Stents
The carotid arteries are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood up both sides of the neck to the brain. As people age, plaque can build up inside their arteries. As the plaques enlarge, the arteries become narrow and stiff, a process called atherosclerosis or ‘hardening of the arteries.’ Blood clots forming on the plaque can cause a blockage, preventing the flow of blood to the brain. When the blood flow to the brain is blocked for too long, the patient can have a stroke.
Carotid stenting is a treatment that provides an effective means of reestablishing blood flow through blocked carotid arteries. Carotid stenting is a procedure in which a tiny, slender metal-mesh tube is fitted inside a carotid artery to increase the flow of blood blocked by plaques. The stent is inserted following a procedure called angioplasty, in which the physician guides a balloon-tipped catheter into the blocked artery. The balloon is inflated and presses against the plaque, pressing it into the artery walls and re-opening the artery. The stent acts as scaffolding to prevent the artery from collapsing or being closed by plaque after the procedure is completed.
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