Carotid Artery Stenting

Carotid arteries, located on both sides of your neck, are the main arteries that supply blood to your brain. When the arteries are narrowed by plaque — known as carotid artery disease — it can increase your risk of forming a blockage there or in a vessel in your brain, causing a stroke.

To perform the procedure, your doctor makes a small incision in your upper thigh or arm and threads a catheter fitted with a deflated balloon at its tip. Once the catheter is in the blocked or narrowed area, the balloon is inflated to compress the plaque and create a larger opening. Your doctor places a stent — a wire mesh tube — in the area to hold the artery open, removing a potential source of clots that can cause a stroke.

Vascular specialists at El Camino Health are able to offer a minimally invasive solution for even the most advanced carotid artery disease. In many instances, we're able to help people who've been turned away from other facilities.