Join 11 Connects and Wellmont for an exclusive cardiac procedure twittercast

Join us here at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10 as we follow one patient’s procedure at Holston Valley Hospital and you can find out firsthand what it’s like dealing with heart disease and the consequences.

We’ll be joining Sara Diamond and Wellmont doctors and technicians to sit in with Richard Pye of Greeneville as he undergoes a carotid artery stenting in the lab at Holston Valley in Kingsport.

The video below explains how a carotid artery stent procedure works.

The following facts and information on carotid artery disease and treatment come from Web MD:

Carotid Artery Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Tests, and Treatment

Carotid artery disease is also called carotid artery stenosis. The term refers to the narrowing of the carotid arteries. This narrowing is usually caused by the buildup of fatty substances and cholesterol deposits, called plaque. Carotid artery occlusion refers to complete blockage of the artery. When the carotid arteries are obstructed, you are at an increased risk for a stroke, the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

What Are the Carotid Arteries?

The carotid arteries are two large blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the large, front part of the brain. This is where thinking, speech, personality, and sensory and motor functions reside. You can feel your pulse in the carotid arteries on each side of your neck, right below the angle of the jaw line.

How Does Carotid Artery Disease Happen?

Like the arteries that supply blood to the heart—the coronary arteries—the carotid arteries can also develop atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries” on the inside of the vessels.

Over time, the buildup of fatty substances and cholesterol narrows the carotid arteries. This decreases blood flow to the brain and increases the risk of a stroke.

What Are the Risk Factors for Carotid Artery Disease?

The risk factors for carotid artery disease are similar to those for other types of heart disease. They include:

  * age
  * smoking
  * hypertension (high blood pressure)—the most important treatable risk factor for stroke
  * abnormal lipids or high cholesterol
  * diet high in saturated fats
  * insulin resistance
  * diabetes
  * obesity
  * sedentary lifestyle
  * family history of atherosclerosis, either coronary artery disease or carotid artery disease

Men under the age of 75 have a greater risk than women. Women have a greater risk over the age of 75. People who have coronary artery disease have an increased risk of developing carotid artery disease. Typically, the carotid arteries become diseased a few years later than the coronary arteries.

What Medical Procedures Treat Carotid Artery Disease?

If there is severe narrowing or blockage in the carotid artery, a procedure can be done to open the artery. This will increase blood flow to the brain to prevent future stroke. Your doctor may suggest either of the following procedures:

  * Carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This has been the commonly performed procedure for patients who have carotid atherosclerosis and TIAs or mild strokes. While you’re under general anesthesia, an incision is made in the neck at the location of the blockage. The surgeon isolates the artery and surgically removes the plaque and diseased portions of the artery. Then, the artery is sewn back together to allow improved blood flow to the brain. The risks and benefits of CEA depend on your age, the degree of blockage, and whether you’ve had a stroke or TIA.
  * Carotid artery stenting (CAS). Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a newer treatment option. It’s less invasive than carotid endarterectomy and is performed in a catheterization laboratory. With CAS, a small puncture is made in the groin. A specially designed catheter is threaded to the area of narrowing in the carotid artery. Once in place, a small balloon tip is inflated for a few seconds to open the artery. Then, a stent is placed in the artery and expanded to hold the artery open. A stent is a small stainless steel mesh tube that acts as a scaffold to provide support inside your artery. The stent stays in place permanently. CAS is still a new procedure and there is significant controversy as to how well it prevents strokes caused by carotid artery disease.