Depending upon the clinical scenario, for many patients removing that plaque reduces the risk of stroke. This procedure, which was at one time considered high risk, has evolved to a point where the morbidity and mortality rate is about 1 percent. About 90 percent of patients are home in 48 hours and a significant percentage return home in 24 hours. In this operation the artery is exposed through a small incision in the neck. The artery is opened with a scalpel and the plaque, which is confined to the inner and middle layers of the arterial wall, is peeled away, resulting in a smooth arterial surface, and the diameter of the artery is restored to normal.
Blood is kept flowing to the brain throughout the procedure with the use of a shunt.
Ultrasound is then used to check the technical perfection of the operation before we close, enhancing the results the surgeon has achieved. The subclavian arteries supply blood to the arms. Symptoms of blockages include pain or discomfort in the arm. Depending on their location, these blockages can also steal blood from the brain through the vertebral artery- another major vessel that supplies the brain, Symptoms of this disease process can include dizziness, inability to walk straight, and blurry or double vision. In the subclavian-carotid transposition procedure, we transpose the subclavian artery to the side of the common carotid artery, which restores normal hemodynamics to the arm and has a long term patency rate exceeding 95 percent,' Dr. Weaver says.