Most patients with 90% carotid artery stenosis will require stenting, and very few patients with 90% carotid artery stenosis can be treated without stenting.
Surgery should generally be considered for carotid artery stenosis over 70%. Carotid artery stenosis may cause symptoms such as hemiplegia, weakness in the limbs, slurred speech, and blurred vision. When the stenosis reaches 90%, the patient may suffer from cerebral edema due to ischemia of the brain tissue, which may aggravate the condition.
However, some patients with 90% stenosis on one side of the carotid artery can be compensated by the opposite side of the blood vessels, and the patient does not have obvious clinical symptoms. At this time, the patient can choose non-surgical treatment, without stenting, and only through the use of medication (e.g., aspirin, atorvastatin, etc.) treatment.
Carotid artery stenosis can usually be treated by carotid endarterectomy or internal carotid artery stenting. However, stent implantation is generally less damaging to the patient and the recovery after the procedure is faster. Therefore, stent implantation is generally recommended as the preferred treatment for patients with severe carotid artery stenosis.
When carotid artery stenosis is found, it is recommended to go to regular hospitals for consultation and treatment under the guidance of professional doctors, so as not to affect the patient’s condition.