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CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
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1994-01-17
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$Unique_ID{BRK02388}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What Can Be Done About Stenosis (Narrowing) of the Carotid Artery?}
$Subject{stenosis narrowing carotid artery arteries side neck vessels aorta
innominate atherosclerosis ischemia endarterectomy transient ischemic attack
tia collateral circulation aortic pyloric circulatory system medicine
medicines medication medications treatment treatments narrow sides vessel
blood flow}
$Volume{G-4,R-4}
$Log{
Atherosclerosis of Arteries*0009301.scf
Complications of Atherosclerosis*0009401.scf}
Copyright (c) 1992,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
What Can Be Done About Stenosis (Narrowing) of the Carotid Artery?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: I have two questions for you. I have been diagnosed as having
stenosis (narrowing) of the carotid artery. What, if anything, can help this
problem? Am I in a no win situation? I am very upset and feel as though I am
sitting on a time bomb. I would appreciate any help you can provide on this
subject.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: It depends a bit upon your past history and whether or not you have
had any symptoms. The carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, are
major vessels which run from the main arteries of the body (the aorta on the
left and the innominate artery on the right) to feed the network or arteries
in the brain with oxygen rich blood. When the inside walls of the carotids
become the site of collections of fatty deposits (atherosclerosis), the
passage way for blood is closed down. Less blood makes its way to the brain,
with the result that there are insufficient supplies of oxygen (ischemia), and
a stroke can result when smaller arteries are completely blocked off by a
blood clot. However, these narrowed places in the arteries can be opened
through a surgical procedure called endarterectomy, during which the surgeon
removes the fatty plaques. It is not an easy operation and it involves a
significant risk. Therefore surgeons usually do not recommend the surgery
unless there is evidence that the patient is a greater risk of having a
stroke, than the risk related to the surgery itself. For patients who have
already suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a nondisabling stroke,
and have a 70 percent or greater narrowing of the artery, the operation is
considered "highly beneficial". For the many patients who have some narrowing
but no symptoms, the decision is less easy to make. The vast majority of
these patients never do go on to strokes, in which case the risks of the
operation outweigh its positive results. Other arteries which run around the
site of blockage (collateral circulation) may make up for the blocked artery,
and provide the needed oxygen to the brain in any case. In addition there are
studies currently under way which seek to measure the use of aspirin to
prevent strokes, and to compare the results of this medical treatment to those
obtained with surgery. You may not be sitting on a time bomb, but the correct
treatment will depend upon the results of your history, tests and
examinations.
----------------
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.