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Melvin Dagsland
Carotid surgery can help prevent strokes
"I knew something was wrong when I had an odd feeling in my right arm this summer," said Lebanon resident Melvin Dagsland, 82. "The arm just went limp on me for a few minutes. I couldn't move it. I've been an active guy all my life, and that was unusual."
What Dagsland experienced was a warning sign, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke. Fortunately, Dagsland sought the advice of his primary care physician, who quickly referred his patient to Dr. Toshio Nagamoto of the Heart and Vascular Institute. Sure enough, screening confirmed that Dagland's left carotid artery was 80 percent blocked, so he was scheduled for surgery.
"I was asleep during the procedure, and I only spent one night in the hospital," Dagsland said. "I had a little bit of soreness afterward, but not for long. Now I'm back to normal, and I definitely feel good. I'm glad I had the surgery."
The surgery, carotid endarterectomy, cleans out cholesterol, calcium and other fibrous tissue that may build up within the walls of one or both carotid arteries. Those are the blood vessels, located on each side of the neck, that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain and face.
During the surgery, a small incision is made in the neck to expose the carotid artery at the point where a screening CT scan, MRI or angiogram has detected a blockage or narrowing. The surgeon then temporarily clamps the artery to prevent blood from flowing through it and inserts a shunt to re-route blood flow to the brain. The surgeon removes the plaque deposits, stitches up the artery, removes the clamp and shunt, and closes up the outer incision.
"Carotid endarterectomy is a sensible option for many patients who may be at risk for stroke," said Dr. Nagamoto. "If left untreated, a blocked carotid artery also can cause dizziness, loss of some or all vision in one eye, and weakness of the arm, leg or face on one side of the body. Usually, the surgery requires only an overnight stay in the hospital, and patients can get back to their regular routines quite quickly."
Symptoms that may indicate a blocked carotid artery:
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Weakness of the arm, leg or face
- Inability to move the arm, leg or face
- Numbness or tingling in arm, leg or face
- Difficulty swallowing
- Confusion or fainting
Any of the above may be caused by a TIA (transient ischemic attack), a temporary lack of blood to some part of the body because of a constricted blood vessel.
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