Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid Endarterectomy

The most common treatment for carotid artery disease is carotid endarterectomy. During a carotid endarterectomy an incision is made along the front of the neck, the carotid artery is opened and the atherosclerosis is removed. The artery is repaired with either sutures or a graft, using either local or general anesthesia. Either way, most patients are discharged from the hospital within 48 hours after the operation.

Carotid surgery has improved significantly over the last 20 years. The risks are now very low, even in patients more than 80 years old. Studies have shown that the benefit from surgery lasts and that it helps prevent strokes.

Mayo Clinic Publications

See a list of publications by Mayo Clinic doctors on carotid endarterectomy on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.