Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
100% Blocked Carotid
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
100% Blocked Carotid
by everaert3, May 22, 2003 12:00AM
My father had a mild stroke 5/19, had doppler, MRI, was informed that the left carotid was 100% blocked. His left brain was affected, his muscle tone and movement is good in right side, little droop in mouth, right eye has lost peripheral sight, maybe temporarily (today is 5/22). He does not slur, but is finding it hard to find correct words to talk and has lost some comprehension skills. Doctor said there was nothing to do for the blockage, due to risk of collapse and the right side had taken over. My father is 150 lbs, 5'9. Total cholesterol 180, bad cholesterol: 145. He is a smoker.
Would he be a candidate for the surgery to clear the artery? Is only clean living the cure or "temporary fix" until the next stroke?
Would he be a candidate for the surgery to clear the artery? Is only clean living the cure or "temporary fix" until the next stroke?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, May 22, 2003 12:00AM
Sorry to hear about your father. Patients with 100% blockage of the carotid are not a candidate for surgery or other invasive procedure to "reopen" the artery as your doctor has advised you. Your father probably does have what's called collateral circulation in which other blood vessels have compensated for the blocked artery. However, one thing to consider depending on the reliability of the doppler (MRI tends to overestimate degree of blockage) is to get an angiogram to confirm the blockage. If it was overestimated by the other studies and it's really only 80-90% occluded, then he may still be a candidate for a procedure. This is of course only a suggestion and should be discussed with your doctor as I have never personally seen your father. Stroke risk factor management (?clean living) is certainly a priority and antiplatelet or anticlotting medications should be on board. Good luck.
Member Comments (2)
by everaert3, May 23, 2003 12:00AM
Thank you for your comment. The shock of the stroke was enough, I did not know anything about this. Thank you for your suggestions, I will talk to the doctor.
