Carotid endarterectomy
Head and neck carotid artery surgery
Carotid surgery can be carried out by HCA UK’s experts to unblock the carotid artery to restore blood flow
What is a carotid endarterectomy?
Carotid surgery (carotid endarterectomy) is a surgical procedure to remove a build-up of fatty deposits, which cause a narrowing of a carotid artery in the neck.
This surgery may be needed if conditions affecting the neck, such as carotid artery disease or stenosis of the carotid artery, narrow the main artery that leads to your brain from your neck restricting the blood flow and oxygen within the body.
The aim of carotid surgery is to open or clean the carotid artery with the goal of preventing complications in the future such as a stroke.
Need to know
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What happens during carotid surgery? icon plus
Carotid surgery usually takes one to two hours and is carried out under general or local anaesthetic. During surgery, your surgeon will decide whether to use a temporary shunt (hollow tube) to maintain adequate blood flow to the brain. When the surgeon has accessed your artery, it is clamped to stop the blood flowing and an opening is made across the length of the narrowing. If a shunt is to be used, it will be inserted. The surgeon removes the inner lining of the narrowed section of your artery, with any fatty deposits or plaque. Once the narrowing has been removed, the artery opening will either be closed with stitches or a special patch. -
How to prepare icon plus
Before your treatment, your consultant will carefully explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you might have. The procedure itself may be carried out with a local anaesthetic or you may have a general anaesthetic. You may be asked to avoid eating or drinking a few hours before the procedure. As with all surgery, there may be some risks or side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you. -
After your surgery icon plus
You will be moved to the recovery area, where you'll be looked after by our team of consultants and nurse specialists. You may have some discomfort in your neck where the cut was made but this will be controlled with painkillers.
You may also experience some numbness around the wound, which disappears after a while. Most people can eat and drink a few hours after surgery and are usually able to leave hospital within 48 hours. The majority of people are able to drive two to three weeks afterwards and can return to work after three or four weeks.
Our surgeons
Our locations in London
From complex surgery to diagnostic tests and procedures, we provide exceptional medical and surgical care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
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The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place
London W1U 5NY
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The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place
St John's Wood
London NW8 9LE
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The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street
London W1G 8BJ
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London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2PR
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The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
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Private Care at Guy's
Great Maze Pond
London SE1 9RT
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Devonshire Diagnostic Centre
16 Devonshire Street
Marylebone
London W1G 7AF
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HCA UK at The Shard
The Shard
32 St Thomas Street
London SE1 9BS
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HCA UK at Docklands
2 Upper Bank Street, Canary Wharf
London
E14 5EE
Private Carotid artery surgery in Birmingham
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The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham B15 2FQ
Book an appointment
Our team can help with any enquiries or you can make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants.
Call us today
020 7079 4344