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A stroke, for most people, is even more frightening than a heart attack. The damage done to the brain is often irreparable. For this reason, the Strong Heart & Vascular Center is working hard to take the lead in preventing strokes.
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Taking away one of the chief causes of stroke. Plaque buildup in the carotid arteries (the main arteries in the neck) is one of the main causes of stroke. A stroke happens when a small piece of this plaque breaks off and is carried to the brain, lodging there and cutting off the blood supply. Fortunately, this danger can be detected ahead of time through a simple procedure called a carotid ultrasound. When patients have a substantial level of blockage, and therefore a greater risk of stroke, an operation called an endarterectomy can be performed. In an endarterectomy, a surgeon removes that plaque that is clogging the arteries. This provides a clear passage for blood to the brain, significantly reducing the chances of a stroke.
Less invasive stroke prevention. When a person has a serious blockage in the arteries around the heart, a stent—a tiny mesh tube—can be inserted to open up the artery again. Now, a very similar procedure is being used to open up blocked carotid arteries in the neck and significantly reduce the chance of stroke. These carotid stents achieve the same effect as the traditional surgery discussed above, but the procedure is less invasive. After the carotid artery is opened up with a balloon catheter, a stent is inserted through a tiny incision in the leg or the arm, and then guided to the carotid artery. The stent is then expanded to open up and provide support for the artery. The Strong Heart & Vascular Center took a leading role in performing research on carotid stenting, and is the first hospital in the area to be approved to perform this procedure. Currently, this procedure is being evaluated for each patient to determine whether traditional surgery (endarterectomy) or this less invasive procedure will produce the best outcome.
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