Where is the incision for carotid artery surgery?

During a carotid endarterectomy, your healthcare provider will surgically remove plaque that builds up inside the carotid artery. He or she will make a cut (incision) on the side of the neck over the affected carotid artery. The artery is opened and the plaque removed.

Which clamp is removed last during a carotid endarterectomy?

Common carotid artery clamp is released, and the suture is pulled taut. The last – internal carotid artery clamp is realized.

What nerves could be injured during a carotid endarterectomy?

The nerves most at risk of injury during carotid endarterectomy are the marginal mandibular branch of the facial (Vth) nerve, the laryngeal branches of the vagus (Xth) nerve and the hypoglossal (XIIth) nerve due to their close anatomical relationships to the carotid bifurcation.

What is a common postoperative complication of carotid artery disease?

Perioperative complications of carotid endarterectomy include stroke, myocardial infarction, and death, and postoperative complications are cranial nerve injuries, wound hematoma, hypertension, hypotension, hyperperfusion syndrome, intracerebral hemorrhage, seizures, and recurrent stenosis.

How long is the hospital stay for carotid artery surgery?

Patients usually stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days after the surgery to allow time for recovery and time for the physician to monitor progress. You will be discharged with information about which activities you may need to limit and for how long, such as driving or physical activities.

What is the medical term for removal of plaque from an artery?

Endarterectomy – The removal of plaque from the inner wall of a diseased artery by surgery. Endograft -A graft placed inside the blood vessel to treat aneurysms. Endovascular – Repair or reconstruction of an artery from within using minimally invasive techniques.

Which of the following clamps are used for a carotid endarterectomy?

The two basic types of vascular clamps include the cross clamp, which is used for total occlusion and control of a vessel, and the partial occlusion clamp, which is used for the occlusion of a portion of a vessel, permitting con- tinuous flow of blood.

What happens if the hypoglossal nerve is damaged?

The hypoglossal nerve can be damaged at the hypoglossal nucleus (nuclear), above the hypoglossal nucleus (supranuclear), or interrupted at the motor axons (infranuclear). Such damage causes paralysis, fasciculations (as noted by a scalloped appearance of the tongue), and eventual atrophy of the tongue muscles.

How big is the incision for a carotid endarterectomy?

Results: The length of the longitudinal skin incision varied from 0.8 to 3.5 inches (average 1.4 +/- 0.5 inches). It was < or = 1 inch in 56 cases (21%), 1.1 to 1.5 inches in 110 (42%), 1.6 to 2 inches in 85 (32%), and 2.1 to 3.5 inches in the remaining 14 cases (5%).

How long is recovery after carotid artery surgery?

After surgery, most people can return to normal activities within three to four weeks. Although, many get back to their daily routines as soon as they feel up to it. During the first few weeks of your recovery, some key things to keep in mind include: You may have some soreness in your neck for about two weeks.