Carotid arteries supply blood to the brain.
When they become narrowed by plaque, blood flow to the brain is reduced, which increases the risk of stroke. The standard therapy for this condition is surgical removal of the obstructing blockage. In the procedure, a small flexible catheter with a metallic stent positioned at the end is placed in the narrowed region of the carotid artery. The stent, when deployed, expands and compresses the plaque against the blood vessel wall, thereby enlarging the opening in the carotid artery and maintaining blood flow to the brain. When the catheter is removed, the stent remains in place as a fixed scaffold to keep the artery open.