100% Blocked Carotid

[everaert3]

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?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

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.

[everaert3]

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.

[Sandy7364]

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[mitzie57]

A related discussion, Blocked carotid artery was started.