para>This is an image of a person, the brain and the blood vessels that lead from the heart, through the neck to the brain. There are two callouts, highlighting an area of the blood vessels just below the brain. In the first, the artery is partially blocked by plaque. In the second, the artery does not have any plaque blocking it.View Original
This is an image of a person, the brain and the blood vessels that lead from the heart, through the neck to the brain. There are two callouts, highlighting an area of the blood vessels just below the brain. In the first, the artery is partially blocked by plaque. In the second, the artery does not have any plaque blocking it.
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This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.
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This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut sites. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- If you need to limit moving or twisting your neck
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
- Prevent blood clots
- Treat high blood pressure
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activity may be limited for a while. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
You may have some trouble swallowing after the surgery from swelling. Ask your doctor about your diet at home. Soft foods that are easy to swallow are often best. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding
- Trouble swallowing
- Breathing problems
- Blood clots
- High or low blood pressure
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Heart attack
- Infection
- Injury to the carotid artery
- Nerve injury in the site where the procedure is done
- Seizures
- Stroke
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Keep a normal weight. If you are too heavy, lose weight.
- Keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and high blood sugar under control.
- Eat a heart healthy diet. Eat foods low in fats, sugars, and salt. Eat high-fiber foods which include fruits and vegetables. Your doctor or dietitian can help you make a plan to change your diet.
- Avoid smoking and beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol). Talk with your doctor about help to stop smoking or drinking.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚
- Signs of heart attack:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling dizzy
- Signs of stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Call your doctor if you have: ‚
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, or pain.
Where can I learn more?
American Heart Association ‚
http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300432.pdf ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/carend/ ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Carotidendarterectomy/Pages/Risks.aspx ‚
Society for Vascular Surgery ‚
http://www.vascularweb.org/vascularhealth/Pages/carotid-endarterectomy.aspx ‚
Stroke Center ‚
http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/stroke-treatment/carotid-endarterectomy/ ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-05-26 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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