Mr Joseph Leverment, from Cropston, Leicester, had a carotid endarterectomy while he was a senior surgeon at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. He was operated on by colleagues at Leicester Royal Infirmary after having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) at work.

“I was doing my outpatient clinic at Glenfield Hospital near Leicester when suddenly I felt nauseous and dizzy. I didn’t think much of it to begin with and took a break to have a cup of tea. When that didn’t help, I thought I might have low blood sugar as I hadn’t eaten much that morning. I went to the hospital fast food restaurant to get something to eat. It was only at the counter that I realised I couldn’t speak.

“Being a medical professional, I had an idea something might be wrong, but in confusion I thought I should just go home and rest. Once home, I went to bed and although it was the middle of the day, I slept for hours. When I woke up, my wife noticed at once that I was very confused as I was unable to string a proper sentence together.

“By then I had realised that I needed urgent medical help. As I couldn’t speak properly, I managed to write down the name of one of my colleagues, a fellow surgeon, on a piece of paper. Although I had worked with him for years and he was a good friend, all I could remember was his first name, Graham. My wife understood immediately who she should contact. She drove me to the hospital where Graham was. On getting out of my bed, I realised I couldn’t feel my right arm or leg. I became increasingly worried.

“At the hospital, I had an MRI scan and other tests, which showed I had almost a total blockage on the left carotid artery. I was then transferred to Leicester Royal Infirmary where I had a carotid endarterectomy the following morning. I knew I had no option but to have the surgery. It was urgent as I was having what is called ‘crescendo’ TIAs, where I was likely to have a major stroke at any time. I had full confidence in the surgeon who did the operation as I’d known him professionally for years.

“When I woke up I was so grateful to see my wife and daughter’s faces again – I realised there was a small risk I would have a stroke and perhaps not survive the operation. I felt reasonably well afterwards, but still had numbness down my right side. My arm and leg were badly affected. My speech was also not back to normal. But after spending the night in intensive care, I was well enough to go home again the following morning.

“For several weeks after the operation I had naps in the afternoon as I got tired very easily, mentally and physically. Now, five months on, I am much improved. I can speak again. For a time, even though able to talk, I was getting words mixed up and not making a lot of sense. This was caused by damage to part of my brain during the TIAs.

“I have also gradually regained my strength. I began by doing small things around the house, like potting plants and doing a few odd jobs. Since then I have progressed to full-on gardening. I’m currently building a barbecue, which we will use in the summer. I can also walk again, and I’ve regained use of my hand.

“I’ve also made a lot of lifestyle changes. I’ve been a smoker since I was 18 and only stopped after my surgery. My colleagues used to call me ‘Smokey Joe’. It was hard to give up smoking even then, but I succeeded with the help of nicotine replacement therapy. I had patches, an inhaler and nicotine gum!

“I’ve changed my diet too. With such a busy life, I often ate fast food on the go. I also used to eat a lot of red meat. Now we eat a lot more vegetables. Instead of a fry-up in the morning, we have porridge. That wasn’t an easy change as I was very fond of red meat and fatty foods. But I know how important it is for the health of my arteries.

“I’m taking several different types of medication to keep my cholesterol under control. Unfortunately, high cholesterol runs in my family. I’m also on blood pressure medication and still struggle at times to keep that normal. Thankfully I have a wonderful GP who is very helpful. Another tablet I take every day is aspirin to help stop blood clots.

“The tests showed that my other carotid artery has only a 30% blockage, so I thankfully won’t need to have surgery on that one.

“As I was already over retirement age, I won’t be going back to work again. I consider myself to be very lucky. Because of my medical background, I had a good idea of what was happening to me on that day in November. I also knew exactly who to contact. I know others aren’t so fortunate. Not everyone knows the symptoms of a stroke or a TIA.”

Carotid endarterectomy is the main treatment for narrowing of the carotid arteries as it is very effective. However, there is also an alternative procedure called carotid artery stent placement, or “stenting”.

Carotid artery stent placement

Carotid artery stent placement is less invasive than a carotid endarterectomy because it does not involve an incision being made in the neck.

Stenting is carried out under local anaesthetic and involves a narrow flexible tube called a catheter being inserted into an artery in your groin. It is then threaded up into the carotid artery using X-rays to guide it into place.

There is a small balloon at the end of catheter that is inflated to around 5mm at the site of the narrowed artery. A small mesh cylinder called a stent will then be inserted into the artery. The balloon will be deflated and removed, leaving the stent in place to keep the artery open and allow blood to flow through it.

After the procedure, you will need to lie flat and keep still for about an hour to prevent any bleeding from the artery. You will need to stay in hospital overnight, but will be able to return home the next day.

Like carotid endarterectomy, there are some risks associated with stenting. The risks of having another stroke or dying are the same for both procedures. As with carotid endarterectomy, stenting will therefore only be recommended if your carotid arteries become severely narrowed.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has confirmed that stenting is a safe procedure and has good short-term results, although the long-term effectiveness of the procedure is not yet known. NICE advises that, provided the risks of stenting are judged similar to those after surgery, it is safe to offer this alternative. 

Before being admitted for surgery, you will have a careful pre-operative assessment.

If a carotid endarterectomy has been arranged in advance, this assessment will usually be carried out in a hospital pre-assessment clinic a few days before you are due to have the procedure. In some cases, you will be asked to attend the pre-assessment clinic on the day the operation is scheduled.

Alternatively, you may be seen in a specialist clinic if you have recently had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). At these clinics, tests to check the health of your arteries will be carried out and you may be admitted for surgery immediately if your carotid arteries are found to be severely narrowed.

Pre-admission clinic

You will have a physical examination and be asked about your medical history at a pre-admission clinic. Any further tests or investigations that are needed will also be carried out at this time.

The pre-admission clinic is a good opportunity for you to ask your treatment team about the procedure, although you can discuss any concerns that you have at any time.

If you are taking any medication (prescribed or otherwise), it would be useful to bring it with you to the pre-admission clinic so the details can be noted.

You will be asked whether you’ve had anaesthetic (painkilling medication) in the past and whether you experienced any problems or side effects, such as feeling sick.

You will also be asked whether you are allergic to anything to avoid a reaction to any medication that you may need during your treatment.

Your treatment team will ask you about your teeth, including whether you wear dentures, have caps or a plate. This is because during the operation you may need to have a tube put down your throat to help you breathe and loose teeth could be dangerous.

Preparing for surgery

Before having a carotid endarterectomy, your surgeon will discuss how you should prepare. They may give you the following advice:

• stop smoking – smoking will increase your risk of developing a chest infection, can delay healing, and increase your risk of developing a blood clot
• watch your weight – if you are overweight, losing weight will be recommended, but as strenuous exercise could be dangerous, you will need to do this by dieting; your GP will be able to advise you about how to lose weight
• gentle post-op exercise – being active can help your recovery, but you should not overdo it; your surgeon or GP can advise you about how much you can do
• think positive – a positive mental attitude can help you deal with the stress of surgery and aid your recovery

Read more about preparing for surgery.

A carotid endarterectomy will either be carried out under general or local anaesthesia.

Anaesthetic

Anaesthetic is painkilling medication that allows surgery to take place without a patient feeling pain or discomfort.

If you have a general anaesthetic, you will be asleep throughout the procedure. You will remain conscious if you have a local anaesthetic, but the area on your neck will be numbed so you cannot feel any pain.

Studies comparing the results of carotid endarterectomies found no difference between the two types of anaesthetic. It will therefore be up to you, your surgeon and your anaesthetist (specialist in anaesthesia) to decide which type of anaesthetic to use. 

Your surgeon may prefer to use local anaesthetic so that you remain conscious during the operation. This will allow them to monitor your brain’s reaction to the decreased blood supply throughout the procedure.

The procedure

A carotid endarterectomy usually takes one to two hours to perform. If both of your carotid arteries need to be unblocked, two separate procedures will be carried out. One side will be done first and the second side will be done a few weeks later.

Once you are asleep or the area has been numbed, your neck will be cleaned with antiseptic to stop bacteria getting into the wound. If necessary, the area may also be shaved. A small incision will then be made to allow the surgeon to access your carotid artery.

During the procedure, your surgeon will decide whether to use a temporary shunt to maintain adequate blood flow to the brain. A shunt is a small plastic tube that can be used to divert blood around the section of the carotid artery being operated on.

The decision to use a shunt is based on surgeon preference and the results of brain blood flow monitoring during the operation. A shunt will not usually be used if the carotid artery on the other side of the neck is supplying the brain with enough blood.

When the surgeon has access to the carotid artery, the artery is clamped to stop blood flowing through it and an opening is made across the length of the narrowing. If a shunt is to be used, it will be inserted now.

The surgeon will then remove the inner lining of the narrowed section of artery, along with any fatty deposits (plaque) that have built up.

Once the narrowing has been removed, the opening in the artery will then either be closed with stitches or a special patch. The majority of surgeons in the UK use a patch, but the choice is down to surgeon preference.

Your surgeon will then check for any bleeding. The incision in your neck will be closed after any bleeding has stopped. A small tube (drain) may be left in the wound to drain away any blood that might build up after the operation. This is usually removed the following day.

After the procedure

When the operation is finished, you will usually be moved to the recovery area of the operating theatre, where your health can be monitored to ensure you are recovering well.

Read more about recovering from a carotid endarterectomy.

Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to unblock a carotid artery. The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that supply the head and neck.

Carotid endarterectomies are carried out when one or both carotid arteries have become narrowed because of a build-up of fatty deposits (plaque). This is known as carotid artery disease or carotid artery stenosis.

If a narrowed carotid artery is left untreated, the blood flow to the brain may be affected, resulting in a:

• stroke – a serious medical condition that can cause brain damage or death, or 
• transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – sometimes known as a “mini-stroke”, a TIA is similar to a stroke but the signs and symptoms are temporary and usually disappear within 24 hours

Each year around 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK. About 45,000 of these are caused by narrowing of the carotid arteries. About 15,000 people have a severe narrowing that requires an operation.

Carotid endarterectomy can significantly reduce the risk of a stroke in people with severely narrowed carotid arteries. In people who have previously had a stroke or a TIA, their risk of having another stroke or TIA within the next three years is reduced by a third after surgery.

Read more about when carotid endarterectomy is needed.

About the procedure

The carotid endarterectomy procedure can be carried out using local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic. Local anaesthetic is often preferred because it means your surgeon can monitor the response of your brain to the changes in blood flow during surgery.

During the procedure, a 7 to 10cm (2.5 to 4 inch) incision will be made between the corner of your jaw and your breastbone. A small incision is then made along the narrowed section of artery and the fatty deposits that have built up there are removed.

The artery is then closed with stitches or a patch and your skin is sealed with stitches.

Read more about getting ready for carotid endarterectomy and how carotid endarterectomy is performed.

What happens after the procedure

You will usually be moved to the recovery area of the operating theatre after a carotid endarterectomy so your health can be monitored. Most people are well enough to go home within about 48 hours of the procedure.

In most cases, the only problems experienced after the operation are temporary numbness or discomfort in the neck. However, there is a small risk of serious complications as a result of the procedure, including stroke and death.

Nevertheless, this risk is much lower than in people with carotid artery disease who have not had the operation.

Read more about recovering from carotid endarterectomy and the risks of carotid endarterectomy.

Are there any alternatives?

A carotid endarterectomy is the main treatment for narrowing of the carotid arteries, but sometimes an alternative procedure called carotid artery stent placement may be available.

This is a less invasive procedure than a carotid endarterectomy because it does not involve an incision being made in the neck. Instead, a thin flexible tube is guided to the carotid artery through a small cut in the groin. A mesh cylinder (stent) is then placed into the narrowed section of artery to widen it and allow blood to flow through it more easily.

Read more about carotid artery stent placement.

After a carotid endarterectomy, you will usually be moved to the recovery area of the operating theatre, or a high dependency unit (HDU) in some cases.

A HDU is a specialist unit for people who need to be kept under close observation after surgery, usually because they have high blood pressure and need to be closely monitored.

After surgery your breathing and heart rate will be monitored to ensure that you are recovering well.

You may have some discomfort in your neck around where the incision was made. This can usually be controlled with painkillers. You may also experience numbness around the wound, which should disappear after a while.

Most people are able to eat and drink a few hours after having surgery. You will usually be able to leave hospital and return home within 48 hours.

Wound care

The wound on your neck will be closed with stitches. You may have dissolvable stitches, which should disappear after about three weeks. However, you may need to have the stitches removed. Your surgeon will be able to advise you about this.

Your surgeon will also be able to give you advice about caring for your wound. This will usually be a simple matter of keeping it clean using mild soap and warm water.

You may be left with a small scar running from the angle of your jaw to the top of your breastbone. The scar is usually about 7 to 10cm (2.5 to 4 inches) long and will fade to a fine line after two or three months.

Driving

Your GP will be able to advise you about when it is safe for you to drive after surgery. You will be able to drive when you can safely carry out an emergency stop. For most people, this is between two to three weeks after the operation.

If you have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), you will not be allowed to drive for a month afterwards. If you have fully recovered, you do not need to inform the DVLA unless you drive a lorry or a bus for a living.

Work and exercise

Most people are able to return to work three to four weeks after having a carotid endarterectomy. Your surgeon or GP will be able to advise you further about returning to work.

You may be advised to limit physical activity for a few weeks after having surgery. This includes manual labour and playing sports. If your job involves manual labour, you should only perform light duties until you have fully recovered.  

As with all types of surgery, there are risks associated with having a carotid endarterectomy.

The two main risks are:

• stroke – the risk of stroke is around 2%, although this may be higher in people who have had a stroke before the operation
• death – there is a less than 1% risk of death, which can occur as a result of complications such as a stroke or heart attack

Most strokes that occur after carotid endarterectomy are caused by an artery in the brain becoming blocked during the early post-operative period, or because there is some bleeding into the brain tissue. Your surgical and anaesthetic team will do all they can to prevent this.

Other complications

As well as stroke and death, there is a small chance of developing other complications after having a carotid endarterectomy. These include:

• pain or numbness at the wound site – this is temporary and can be treated with painkillers
• bleeding at the site of the wound
• wound infection – the wound where the incision was made can get infected; this affects less than 1% of people and is easily treated with antibiotics
• nerve damage – this can cause a hoarse voice and weakness or numbness on the side of your face; it affects around 4% of people, but is usually temporary and disappears within a month
• narrowing of the carotid artery again – this is called restenosis; further surgery is required in about 2-4% of people

Your surgeon should explain the risks that are associated with a carotid endarterectomy before you have the procedure. Ask them to clarify anything you’re not sure about and answer any concerns you have. 

Increased risk

Factors that increase your risk of experiencing complications because of a carotid endarterectomy include:

• your age – the risk increases as you get older
• whether you smoke
• having previously had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – the risk will depend on the severity of the stroke or TIA, how well you recovered and how recently it occurred
• whether you have a blockage in your other carotid artery as well
• whether you have other health conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension) or diabetes

A carotid endarterectomy may be needed if one or both of your carotid arteries become narrowed because of a build-up of fatty deposits (plaque).

This is known as carotid artery disease or carotid artery stenosis, and it significantly increases your risk of having a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Why carotid artery disease develops

Normal healthy arteries are elastic and smooth on the inside, allowing blood to easily flow through them. As a person gets older, plaque can build up inside the arteries, making them narrower and stiffer. This process is called atherosclerosis.

As well as ageing, there are several other factors that can contribute to a build-up of plaque, including:

• a high-fat diet
• high blood pressure (hypertension) 
• diabetes – a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high
• smoking

Read more about the causes of atherosclerosis.

Carotid artery disease and stroke

There are two ways that a stroke or TIA could occur if the flow of blood through your carotid arteries becomes blocked or restricted. These are described below:

• if the carotid artery is completely blocked, limiting the blood supply to your brain – this type of stroke is known as an ischaemic stroke
• if a blood clot forms on the roughened surface of the carotid artery and breaks off it may block one or more arteries in the brain – this type of stroke is known as an embolic stroke

Diagnosing carotid artery disease

Carotid artery disease is usually diagnosed if a person has the symptoms of a stroke or TIA, such as the face drooping on one side, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, speech problems or loss of vision in one eye.

However, occasionally narrowing of the carotid arteries may be diagnosed if you are having tests for another reason and the doctor testing you notices that your arteries are narrowed. This is called an asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

If you have recently had a stroke or a TIA, you will be referred for some brain imaging tests. This will allow the blood supply to your brain to be checked and any narrowing in your carotid arteries to be diagnosed.

Several tests can be used to examine your carotid arteries and find out how much plaque has built up inside them. These include:

• duplex ultrasound scan – sound waves are used to produce an image of your blood vessels and measure the blood flow through them; it can also show how narrow your blood vessels are
• computerised tomography (CT) scan – a series of X-rays are taken at slightly different angles, and a computer assembles the images to create a detailed picture of the inside of your body
• computed tomographic angiogram (CTA) – a special dye is injected into a vein and a CT machine is used to take X-rays to build up a picture of your neck arteries
• magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) – a magnetic field and radio waves are used to produce images of your arteries and the blood flow within them

An ultrasound scan is usually used first to check if there is any narrowing in your arteries and to determine whether it is severe enough for you to benefit from having surgery.

If your arteries are narrowed, you may need to have further tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as a CTA or MRA.

Grading narrowed arteries

If tests indicate that your carotid arteries are narrowed, the severity of the narrowing (stenosis) will be graded to determine if you need surgery.

In the UK, the most common grading system used is the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) scale. The scale has three categories:

• minor – 0-49% narrowed
• moderate – 50-69% narrowed
• severe – 70-99% blocked

When surgery is recommended

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that people who have had a stroke or TIA and have severe stenosis should have a carotid endarterectomy.

You should be assessed within a week of the start of your stroke or TIA symptoms, and the operation will ideally be carried out within two weeks of the start of your symptoms.

It is crucial that you seek medical advice as soon as possible if you develop symptoms of a stroke or TIA. Surgery has the best chance of preventing a further stroke if it is performed as soon as possible.

Surgery will sometimes be recommended if you have not previously had a stroke or a TIA, but you are found to have severe stenosis.

Surgery will not be recommended if you have minor stenosis (less than 50%). This is because surgery has the most benefit for people with moderate and severe stenosis (more than 50%), with the maximum benefit being seen in those with severe stenosis (70-99%).

A carotid endarterectomy is not of any benefit in people with a complete blockage of their carotid artery.