Semmes-Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute

When talking about the risk of stroke, the first place to start is with the carotid arteries.

Most of the blood flow to the brain comes through a pair of large arteries in the neck, called the carotid arteries. The carotid artery is one of the most common locations in the body for plaque to build up over time. Diagnosing and treating this blockage is one of the most important steps in preventing stroke.

Stroke is the number one cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in America.

A stroke occurs when part of the brain is deprived of oxygen because the blood flow to the brain has been blocked. Unlike other parts of the body (like skin or bone), brain cells cannot heal and rebuild themselves. Even though our brains represent only a small portion of our body mass, they receive more than a quarter of the blood flow coming from the heart.

Sometimes carotid artery blockages cause “mini-strokes,” or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) that can give us a warning before a permanent stroke occurs. Symptoms may include temporary vision loss in one eye, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, or difficulty speaking. Even though at other times no warning symptoms for carotid blockage exist, plaque build up can be detected by testing.

Ultrasound, CT, MRI and angiography are all different tests that can be used to detect carotid blockage. Once detected, it is important for patients to see an experienced doctor to help them choose the right treatment option.When carotid blockage is severe, sometimes surgery is recommended. There are two main kinds of surgery to relieve carotid blockage:

• Carotid endarterectomy is a surgery where the blockage in the artery is removed through an incision in the neck.
• Carotid angioplasty involves going through a smaller incision in the leg and opening the artery with a balloon. After the balloon opens the artery, a stent (metal mesh tube) is placed into the artery to keep it open.

Patients usually go home the day after either procedure. Sometimes patients with carotid blockage don’t need to have a procedure done at all. Your risk of stroke can be lowered by changes in diet, lifestyle and medication.

Doctors at the Semmes Murphey Clinic have been helping patients lower their risk of stroke for almost one hundred years. With an international reputation in the treatment of brain diseases, the Semmes Murphey Clinic can offer both carotid endarterectomy and carotid angioplasty and stent placement.

Perhaps even more importantly, they can help each patient understand the best option for them.

Upon completing his training in neurological surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Dr. Jason Weaver completed an additional comprehensive neuro-oncology fellowship training program with the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute.