Carotid endarterectomy is the surgical procedure aimed at releasing occluded or partially restricted carotid arteries.
This dangerous pathological condition - also known as obstructive disease of the carotid arteries or stenosis of the carotid arteries - is established due to atherosclerosis and can be the cause of episodes of stroke or TIA ( transient ischemic attack ).
Being a delicate procedure, the carotid endarterectomy requires the performance of some specific diagnostic tests, which serve to accurately assess the state of health of the carotids, the site of shrinkage and the degree of severity of the latter.
Going into more detail, the tests usually performed in preparation for carotid endarterectomy are:
- Carotid ultrasound . It is a completely painless and non-invasive imaging test based on the use of an ultrasound probe. The latter, resting on the neck, is able to show on a monitor (to which it is obviously connected) the appearance of the carotids and their possible anomalies.
- Carotid angiography . It is a minimally painful and invasive diagnostic test for images, which involves the use of a catheter for the release, in the carotids, of a contrast fluid visible to X-rays. Based on the distribution of the contrast liquid it is possible to establish the site of shrinkage.
- Angio-magnetic resonance . It is a particular magnetic resonance, which makes it possible to analyze the appearance of blood vessels (in this case the carotids) by injecting a contrast liquid and observing their distribution inside. It is a painless procedure, but injection of the contrast medium makes it minimally invasive.
- The angio-TAC . It is a particular TAC, which, as in the previous case, allows us to observe the appearance of a blood vessel by injecting a contrast liquid into it. It is painless, but patient exposure to X-rays is expected.
