The Brain and Spine Institute is made up of experts in the field of neuroscience in order to bring patients the best healthcare in East Tennessee for a full range of neurological diseases and disorders.
myClipboard
myClipboard
Save news, events, articles and doctor's information to your personal clipboard for later reference.
Add items by clicking the 
button.
Create an account
Centers of Excellence
-
-
We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
-
The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
-
Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
-
The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
Share
Print
Carotid Artery Surgery (Stenosis)
The initial test after listening to the arteries with a stethoscope held over the neck is ultrasound examination of the arteries. More refined tests include contrast angiography and magnetic resonance angiography.
Once a diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis has been made the next steps include whether the blockage requires treatment and, if so, which procedure should be performed.
The time-honored therapy for carotid artery stenosis has been carotid endartectomy, an open operation through a neck incision where the blockage is removed and the artery repaired. The new procedure on the block is carotid artery stenting where the artery is dilated with a balloon placed over a catheter, and a stent is left in place to keep the artery open.
There are hazards involved in both of these procedures; the most serious being a major stroke. The stent approach is reserved for high-risk patients and for those who have had previous carotid surgery, irradiation of the neck or complicating medical diagnoses which would make open surgery hazardous. Obviously, most patients would prefer an operation which does not leave a neck scar, but this might not be the best option for many patients.
The best individual to help you decide which procedure should be done is a highly skilled vascular surgeon who is well-trained to perform both carotid endartectomy and carotid stenting. The University Vascular Surgeons at UT Medical Center have East Tennessee’s only approved program to train fellows in endovascular surgery. They performed the first carotid artery stent in Knoxville eight years ago.