When I was at work last week I had a patient that had an operation called carotid endarterectomy. She said to me that she saved her own life. I was wondering why she said that. When I asked her, she said that she's been to the Doctor (General Practitioner) so many times because she always had headache and she felt dizzy all the time. The Doctor always said that she just needs Paracetamol and rest. Poor lady after visiting her Doctor for so many times, she decided to booked a CT scan for herself. And they find out that her artery is full of plaque. So she had an emergency surgery. If she did not do it, it will lead to stroke or even death. So, remember don't always trust your Doctor. Seek advice if you are not convince, ok.
What is carotid endarterectomy?
Carotid endarterectomy is an operation during which your vascular surgeon removes the inner lining of your carotid artery if it has become thickened or damaged. This procedure eliminates a substance called plaque from your artery and can restore blood flow.
As you age, plaque can build up in the walls of your arteries. Cholesterol, calcium, and fibrous tissue make up this plaque. As more plaque builds up, your arteries narrow and stiffen. This process is called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Eventually, enough plaque builds up to reduce blood flow through your carotid arteries, or cause irregularities in the normally smooth inner walls of the arteries.
Your carotid arteries are located on each side of your neck and extend from your aorta in your chest to enter the base of your skull. These important arteries supply blood to your brain.
Carotid artery disease is a serious issue because clots can form on the plaque. Plaque or clots can also break loose and travel to the brain. If a clot or plaque blocks the blood flow to your brain sufficiently, it can cause an ischemic stroke, which can cause permanent brain damage, or death, if a large enough area of the brain is affected. If a clot or plaque blocks only a tiny artery in the brain, it may cause a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. A TIA is often a warning sign that a stroke may occur in the near future, and it should be a signal to seek treatment soon, before a stroke occurs.
To remove plaque in your carotid arteries and help prevent a stroke, your physician may recommend a carotid endarterectomy. Carotid endarterectomy is one of the most commonly performed vascular operations, and is a safe and long-lasting treatment.
2 comments:
Thursday i took hubby to have the test done. we'll be seeing a neuro the 5th to discuss the results. no serious or anything we want to make it sure.
Ayo yooo Shiela,
What you just said is no further than the truth.
Two years ago, when I fell ill with Diabetes, the symptoms were already pronounced.
However, I did not have a clue that it was the onset of Diabetes.
I went to see a GP but he was away and a locum (whom I discovered later was a Specialist) replaced the regular GP.
Guess what? This so-called Specialist, gave me a once over, body check, genital check (because an advanced state of Diabetes does affect the genitals) and everything and then prescribed antibiotics to me.
I went on for the next three consecutive days, drinking Coca Cola, eating sweets stuff and I plunged deeper into Diabetes.
It's a long story really. I wanted to sue the Specialist but my GP doctor returned and apologise, bought me meals and offered me free medications for the mess that his locum caused me.
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