Vascular Clinic

What Is Carotid Artery Disease?

Carotid artery disease occurs when plaque builds up in the carotid arteries—major vessels in your neck that supply blood to your brain. This narrowing, called stenosis, can silently increase your risk of stroke.

Many patients have no symptoms until a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke occurs, which may cause:

At Vascular Clinic, we focus on early detection, ongoing monitoring, and timely intervention to prevent serious events before they happen.

Symptoms & Risk Factors

Even without symptoms, you may be at risk if you have:

We assess these factors thoroughly and guide you through a customized prevention and treatment strategy.

How We Monitor and Manage Carotid Disease

At Vascular Clinic, we provide comprehensive care tailored to your needs. We:

Medication optimization:

Perform vascular imaging to measure and monitor plaque buildup
Conduct serial clinic visits and ultrasounds to track stenosis progression
Initiate and adjust best medical therapy to stabilize disease
Recommend intervention when stenosis meets treatment criteria, before stroke symptoms appear

Our structured surveillance approach ensures nothing is missed, and you’re never caught off guard.

When Intervention Is Needed

We offer two gold-standard treatment options depending on your anatomy, risk factors, and clinical history:

1. Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA)

A proven surgical technique where the artery is opened and plaque is removed to restore blood flow.
Key Features:

2. Trans-Carotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR)

A modern, minimally invasive alternative. TCAR involves a small incision just above the collarbone, venous puncture in the groin which temporarily reverses blood flow during stenting to prevent plaque from reaching the brain.
Key Features:

Smaller incision and faster recovery than CEA
Performed under general anesthesia, occasionally under local anesthesia
Significantly lower risk of stroke compared to traditional transfemoral carotid stenting
One-night hospital stay
Ideal for patients with prior neck surgery, radiation, or higher surgical risk

Symptoms / STROKE Infographics

How We Determine the Right Approach

Your treatment is selected based on:

Each case is reviewed thoroughly to determine whether CEA or TCAR is safest and most effective for you.

What to Expect

Before the Procedure:

Initial clinic consultation and vascular ultrasound
Risk factor evaluation and medical therapy optimization
CT angiogram of the neck to better delineate anatomy and determine best treatment approach

Day of the Procedure:

Performed at a hospital
Local or general anesthesia based on procedure
Most patients return home the next day

After the Procedure:

Follow-up clinic visit and imaging
Long-term monitoring to ensure durability of treatment
Continued guidance on lifestyle and vascular health

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need surgery or a stent?

If the stenosis reaches a certain threshold (typically 70% or more), or if you’ve had symptoms like TIA or stroke, intervention is often recommended. We follow evidence-based criteria to guide decisions.

Is the procedure painful?

Discomfort is minimal. TCAR involves a small incision, and CEA is performed under anesthesia. Recovery is typically quick and well tolerated.

Will I be hospitalized?

Yes, you’ll stay one night for observation in most cases, then return home the following day.

What follow-up is needed?

We perform surveillance imaging after the procedure and schedule regular clinic visits to monitor long-term success.

Why Choose Vascular Clinic?

We are committed to quality over volume and take time to educate, listen, and involve you in every decision.

Carotid Artery Disease