Carotid Stenting

The Providence Heart & Vascular Institute was the first hospital in South Carolina to offer carotid stenting.  Carotid artery stenting is a procedure in which a slender, metal-mesh tube, called a stent, is inserted to expand inside the carotid artery to increase blood flow in areas blocked by plaque on the walls of the artery. The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain, and are found on each side of the neck, extending from the aorta to the base of the skull. Blockages in the carotid arteries can cause a stroke.

Carotid stenting is an alternative to carotid endarterectomy, which involves surgical removal of plaque. Patients are given a local anesthetic, and perhaps blood thinners, prior to the procedure. The physician locates the narrow areas in the arteries by injecting a dye into the arteries and using fluoroscopy, or real-time X-rays.

Before inserting the stent, the physician will usually perform angioplasty. The physician guides the catheter to the blockage site in the carotid artery. Then a small balloon, basket, or filter called an embolic protection device, is inserted to prevent strokes by catching the debris that may break away from the plaque during the procedure. The physician then inserts a stent into the carotid artery to hold the artery open.