What are the results of carotid endarterectomy?

  The carotid artery is one of the main blood supply vessels to the brain. Blood is transported from the heart to the head and face, and during this transport process, it usually needs to pass through a bifurcation in the neck. Under normal circumstances, this bifurcation is open and does not interfere with blood transport. However, when atherosclerotic plaque is formed, this bifurcation may become blocked, causing carotid artery stenosis, which leads to reduced blood flow and causes severe cerebral blood supply deficiency.  According to relevant data, the number one cause of death among Chinese residents in recent years is cerebral infarction, of which more than half are caused by carotid stenosis, including lacunar cerebral infarction, focal cerebral infarction, large cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attack, etc. Severe cerebral infarction is a threat to patients’ life safety. Therefore, carotid stenosis has become one of the number one killers threatening people’s health in today’s society.  The treatment of carotid artery has been a major topic of research in the medical community, and experts have concluded that the disease should be treated with medication or surgery depending on the patient’s actual condition. The aim of pharmacological treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent further extension of the disease, and is suitable for patients with low stenosis and mild symptoms in the early stages. The concept of surgical treatment is very different from that of drug treatment. Surgery can precisely remove the plaque that obstructs blood flow, restore the normal size of the lumen, and restore the usual blood flow. Carotid artery endarterectomy can achieve just such ideal treatment results, but because the carotid artery is very slender, it has very high requirements for the operator.