Carotid artery disease

Carotid artery disease care at Mayo Clinic

Your Mayo Clinic care team

Mayo Clinic carotid artery disease care brings together neurologists and neurosurgeons as well as cardiologists, vascular and endovascular surgeons, and neuroradiologists, working together to provide comprehensive, individualized diagnosis and treatment.

Collaboration within a single setting of such diverse, specialized expertise — focused on you — means you benefit from discussion across a team of highly specialized experts to determine the best approach for your specific condition. Mayo Clinic's team approach means doctors can often provide diagnosis and develop a treatment plan within a few days.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment

Every year, Mayo Clinic specialists treat more than 6,000 people with carotid artery disease. This high volume means Mayo Clinic surgeons have deep experience performing complex procedures such as carotid endarterectomy and carotid angioplasty and stenting.

Wide proficiency in an array of advanced stenting techniques

The issues posed by arterial blockage call for a variety of devices and surgical procedures, whether the challenge is a vessel that needs greater radial force to remain open or the need to guard against material from plaques resettling past a repair site and creating a future embolism risk, or another challenge entirely.

Mayo Clinic surgeons are proficient with the full range of advanced stenting technologies and techniques, rather than being expert in only one or a few approaches for restoring flow through blocked blood vessels. This versatility means Mayo surgeons can pursue the best comprehensive approach for each person's situation based on the person's precise medical needs.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., ranks No. 1 for neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Certified stroke centers

Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida was the first Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in Florida by The Joint Commission, a national organization that evaluates and accredits health care providers, and is the only one in its region. Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, was certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center in 2015. Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona is certified as a Primary Stroke Center.

Expertise and rankings

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., ranks No. 1 for neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Certified stroke centers

Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida was the first Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in Florida by The Joint Commission, a national organization that evaluates and accredits health care providers, and is the only one in its region. Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, was certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center in 2015. Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona is certified as a Primary Stroke Center.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

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Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals, or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.