Carotid artery disease is a vascular condition that affects blood vessels that supply the brain. Getting the right care from specialists helps you avoid serious complications such as stroke.
At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, our vascular team has special expertise in surgery and other treatments for people with carotid artery disease. We combine our skills and training with advanced diagnostic and treatment options. You can be confident in our exceptional care to help you stay healthy and active.
What Is a Carotid Endarterectomy?
A carotid endarterectomy is vascular surgery that opens and clears the carotid artery, a blood vessel that carries blood to the brain. The procedure treats carotid artery disease, a buildup of plaque (cholesterol and other fatty substances) inside the artery. Carotid artery disease, also called carotid artery stenosis, can partly or totally block the artery, which reduces blood flow to the brain and can lead to a stroke.
Our skilled vascular surgeons offer carotid endarterectomy as one of several options for carotid artery disease treatment. We may recommend this surgery to reduce your risk of stroke if you have:
- Moderate (50-79 percent) carotid artery blockage and have had a stroke or are experiencing stroke-like symptoms
- Severe (80 percent or more) carotid artery blockage, even without symptoms
Carotid Endarterectomy: The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Advantage
To ensure that you receive the best possible care, it’s important to choose a vascular surgeon with intimate knowledge of minimally invasive procedures and traditional, open surgery. Our care team specializes in all treatments for carotid artery disease, and we help you decide which options may be right for you. You can expect:
- Expertise in open vascular surgery: Our vascular surgeons are board-certified and have additional years of training in vascular surgery. At LG Health, we perform a high number of carotid endarterectomies each year. That means we have extensive experience in this delicate procedure that reduces your risk of stroke.
- Team approach: You have access to experienced specialists from vascular surgery, vascular medicine, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, radiology and other fields. We bring together our expertise to evaluate you and determine the right care for your unique needs.
- Nationally recognized vascular imaging: Our vascular lab has accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, because we meet the highest standards of patient care. Our technicians are registered vascular technologists who have certifications in vascular technology and specialize in vascular imaging.
- Dedication to high-quality care: LG Health is the only hospital in Lancaster County and one of few in the region that reports our patient outcomes to national registries. By continually measuring our results against national outcomes, we’re able to find ways to improve care for you.
What to Expect During Carotid Endarterectomy
Before surgery, you’ll meet with your vascular surgeon, who will explain the procedure, provide instructions for how to prepare and answer your questions. You may need to have imaging or other tests done a few days before the procedure.
The carotid endarterectomy procedure takes about two hours. You will have general anesthesia, which is like being asleep. Once you’re asleep, the surgeon will:
- Make an incision in your neck to access your carotid artery.
- Place a catheter (thin tube) in the artery to route blood around the treatment area to keep blood flowing to the brain.
- Remove the plaque from the artery to improve blood flow.
- Close the artery and the incision with stitches or a patch.
For your recovery, you’ll first go to the recovery room, where a nurse will monitor you as you wake up. Once you’re stable, we’ll take you to either the intensive care unit or your hospital room. You can expect to go home within the next one or two days, and your overall recovery time will be about two to four weeks.
Make an Appointment
To schedule a carotid endarterectomy consultation, call 717-544-3626.