Assignment on Guidelines for Carotid Endarterectomy

Running head: CAROTID 1
Carotid Endarterectomy
Name of student:
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CAROTID 2
Date due:
General description
Carotid endarterectomy is a type of surgery that is carried out by vascular specialists to
reduce the risks of a stroke. Carotid is used to refer to either of the two arteries that supply blood
in the head while endarterectomy refers to the surgical procedure used to remove blood deposits
that may pile up in the artery causing a blockage (Heid et al., 2017). These blockages cause
stenosis, a condition that leads to bursting of the materials, causing a blockage. When these
materials and some balls caused by blood clot travel to the brain, they hinder blood proper
circulation of blood. Loss of blood supply to the brain causes a type of stroke known as
ischemia.
Cause or indication
Some of the people who happen to be pre-exposed to carotid artery diseases are those that
may be obese, people with high blood pressure, diabetic people, heavy smokers, and people that
lead a very inactive life (Hajjar & Hajjar, 2016). Carotid artery blockage is caused by pilling up
of materials like cholesterol, calcium, fibrin and cellular waste. Due to the buildup, blood artery
cells may multiply at a very high rate; this may cause complete blockage of the arteries all

CAROTID 3
together. After the blockage has become too much a condition known as atherosclerosis, which
makes the arteries harder and narrower happens.
Carotid artery stenosis, in some cases, may have no signs or symptoms, especially in its early
stages. In other cases, though a patient may experience loss of vision in one eye for a short time
whereby someone experiences some difficulties in controlling organs from one side of the body,
e.g., not hearing with one ear, having problems moving one hand, have some transient ischemic
attacks, body numbness, severe headaches and dizziness (Schofer & Bijuklic, 2013).
Experiencing these signs may be clear proof that a stroke is in the buildup. In case of even one of
these signs, one is advised to seek medical treatment immediately.
Treatment or procedure description
Carotid stenosis has several treatments ranging from medical procedures to surgery. This
smooth focus on the process for operation of the arteries. During an endarterectomy, the patient
is fist administered with anaesthesia which is a painkilling medicine that may cause a patient to
fall asleep; this depends on the type of anaesthesia (Onk, Coşkun & Süleyman, 2016). The
surgery consists of two procedures as the surgeon must clean up the arteries on both sides of the
neck. After cleaning the area, the doctor then makes a small cut along the bottom of the neck to
allow them to access the arteries.
Once the artery is accessed, the surgeon uses a clamp to stop blood flow through the area to be
cleaned up first. The surgeon then cuts the length of the artery. At this stage, the surgeon may
decide to use a shunt, which acts as an artificial artery. The shunt diverts the blood from the area
being operated on and passes it on to the brain. The small plastic tube helps maintain the flow of