Carotid Artery Disease Treatment: What to Expect

Vascular Specialists Blog Carotid Artery Disease Treatment: What to Expect
Carotid Artery Disease Treatment: What to Expect

Learning that you have carotid artery disease can be unsettling. Once you hear the words “plaque buildup” and “stroke risk,” it’s natural to wonder what happens next and how serious it is.

Thankfully, carotid artery disease is treatable, and our team can help. Depending on how severe the blockage is, our providers at Vascular Specialists in Tinley Park, Illinois, may recommend lifestyle changes, medication, a minimally invasive procedure, or surgery.

In this month’s blog, we aim to put your mind at ease as we explain what you can expect when you’re going through carotid artery disease treatment.

Your treatment may start with medical management

Not everyone requires a procedure right away. If your carotid artery disease is mild or moderate, your Vascular Specialists provider may begin with medical management to slow plaque buildup and reduce your stroke risk.

This often includes changes that support your vascular health, such as improving your diet, becoming more physically active, managing your weight, and quitting smoking. We may also prescribe medication to help control high blood pressure or high cholesterol, both of which can worsen artery disease.

For many people, this step is an important part of treatment, whether or not you eventually need a procedure.

Explore other treatment options 

If medication management alone isn’t enough to address carotid artery disease, we may recommend one of the following:

Open surgery 

If the arterial blockage is more significant, our team may recommend open surgical treatment. During this procedure, your surgeon:

This approach clears your artery and improves blood flow to your brain, and it’s been in use since the 1950s.

What to expect: You’ll have a short hospital stay (often overnight), a small neck incision with soreness or tightness for several days, and activity restrictions for about 1-2 weeks while your artery heals.

Minimally invasive treatment with a stent

Some people qualify for a less invasive approach, such as carotid artery stenting. The stent keeps your artery open and maintains good blood flow.

Because this treatment doesn’t require open surgery, it may be a good option depending on your anatomy, the location of the blockage, and your overall health.

What to expect: This is a catheter-based procedure through your groin or wrist, so you’ll experience a short hospital stay (often overnight), and mild soreness or bruising at the access site. Most people resume normal activities within a few days.

Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR)

If you aren’t a good candidate for traditional surgery or standard stenting because of your health risks, you may qualify for transcarotid artery revascularization.

This minimally invasive procedure is designed to lower your risk of having a stroke during treatment. During TCAR, you need a small incision just above your collarbone. This allows us to place a small tube into your carotid artery. 

That tube connects to a specialized neuroprotection system that temporarily redirects blood flow away from your brain. This matters because the system captures any plaque debris that may break loose during the procedure, preventing it from traveling to the brain and causing a stroke. 

TCAR has several benefits, including:

Case studies show that even in complex cases with other circulation issues, TCAR may still be a safe and effective option for reducing stroke risk.

What to expect: Anticipate a smaller incision above your collarbone, typically an overnight or same-day stay, mild soreness, and a quicker return to normal activities, often within a few days.

Your treatment plan depends on the severity of your disease

The best treatment for your carotid artery disease depends on more than one factor. Before recommending the next step, our team looks at the whole picture: how narrowed your artery is, your symptoms, your overall health, and your personal risk level.

That’s why a thorough vascular evaluation matters. You need a treatment plan that matches your condition, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Expect a good follow-up plan

No matter which treatment you receive, follow-up care remains important. Your Vascular Specialists provider continues to monitor your vascular health and guide you on the lifestyle habits and medications that can help protect your arteries going forward.

That ongoing care helps lower your chance of future plaque buildup. 

Call Vascular Specialists at 815-824-4406 or book an evaluation online today to learn which carotid artery disease treatment may be right for you.

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