$Unique_ID{BRK00616}
$Pretitle{Special Procedures and Laboratory Tests, Circulatory System}
$Title{What is the Name of the Artery Operation to Prevent Stroke?}
$Subject{stroke carotid surgery}
$Volume{P-4, G-4}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is the Name of the Artery Operation to Prevent Stroke?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION:  What is the name of the artery operation to prevent stroke?  Is it
safe?  There is someone in our family who may be in need of such an operation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER:  Although I'm not sure from your letter just what information you are
seeking, I suspect you mean a surgical procedure called "carotid
endarterectomy".  I'll proceed on that assumption, and answer your questions,
because I believe many other readers may also be interested.  When performed
under optimum conditions, carotid endarterectomy can prevent stroke.  Those
conditions include operating on patients that exhibit the traditional symptoms
of ischemia (when there is a lack of oxygen being delivered to the brain
because of obstructed or blocked blood vessels), or impending stroke:  partial
paralysis or numbness in the limbs on one side of the body, speech loss, and
partial vision loss.  For these patients, carotid endarterectomy is considered
a safe and straightforward procedure.  The operation attempts to clean out the
passage of the obstructed vessels, allowing the blood to flow freely towards
the brain.
     But for patients who exhibit widespread symptoms, such as overall
paralysis or total vision loss, or for those who exhibit no symptoms at all,
the procedure can be dangerous.  At best, under these conditions, there is no
guarantee that the procedure will prevent stroke.  At worst, the operation
itself could prompt stroke.  In these cases, the physician relies upon the
patient's past history of stroke, and evaluates the possibility of a future
stroke against the potential danger involved in performing the endarterectomy.
ÿ
----------------

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.
