Carotid endarterectomy performed under general or local anesthesia is the surgical procedure, which allows the cleaning of the carotid arteries, victims of the consequences of atherosclerosis .
The carotid arteries - or more simply carotids - are two large blood vessels located at the sides of the neck, which, together with the vertebral arteries, carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain and to all the anatomical structures of the head.
ATTEROSCLEROSIS AND CAROTID ARTERIES
Atherosclerosis is that vascular pathological process that leads to hardening and narrowing of the lumen of arterial vessels of medium and large caliber.
The arteries are narrowed by deposits of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances, which can be positioned close to the inner wall of the vessels.
These deposits - dangerous both if they remain in the formation site (thrombi) and if they detach (emboli) - are called atheromas or atheromatous plaques .
Carotids are arteries particularly exposed to the process of atherosclerosis and, when this occurs, episodes of stroke or TIA ( transient ischemic attack ) may occur.
Doctors define the condition of narrowing (or stenosis) of the carotid arteries with the term obstructive disease of the carotid arteries or stenosis of the carotid arteries.
