People at risk for a stroke because of a blocked carotid artery have a new option for their care at the Blessing Heart & Vascular Center, thanks to Jeffrey Cook, MD, cardiologist, Blessing Physician Services. In February, for the first time at Blessing, Dr. Cook placed a stent in a patient’s carotid artery.
Located on each side of the neck, the carotid arteries are two large blood vessels that supply blood to the front part of the brain, where thinking, speech, personality, and sensory and motor functions reside. Over time, the buildup of fatty substances and cholesterol can narrow one or both carotid arteries. This narrowing decreases blood flow to the brain and increases the risk of a stroke.
“Blocked carotid arteries are not as common as blockages in the arteries of the heart, legs or kidney arteries,” said Dr. Cook. “But blocked carotid arteries contribute to as many as 30 percent of all strokes.”
The first choice for treatment of this condition is surgery called carotid endarterectomy, during which a surgeon surgeon opens the carotid artery and removes the blockage.
“Stents are used for patients who are not candidates for surgery. There are several reasons why that would be including pre-existing conditions that would complicate surgery, and an individual’s anatomy that could make surgery impossible.”
During the procedure a small tube is placed into the artery through an incision. A balloon tip within the tube is inflated to push the blockage to the side and widen the artery. Then, a metal mesh tube, known as a stent, is insert in the artery through the tube to reduce the risk future clogs.
The first patient to receive a carotid artery stent at the Blessing Heart & Vascular Center was an 88-year-old man who had experienced a clogged carotid artery previously and a Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA, because of it. A TIA is a warning sign that a full stroke could occur in the future. The man underwent surgery, but over time the blockage reformed, leading to placement of the stent.
Dr. Cook had experience with placement of carotid artery stents in his previous practice in northern Illinois, allowing him to bring the procedure to the Blessing Heart & Vascular Center as a new care option for its patients. He works with the vascular surgeons on the Blessing Heart & Vascular medical staff to offer this care option.