Your carotid arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood to your brain. Narrowing of these arteries affects blood flow and increases your risk of having a stroke. To improve your circulation and reduce your risk of developing severe complications, vascular surgeon Praveen Balraj, MD, FACS, RPVI, offers carotid artery surgery at the Vascular Institute of Arizona. To schedule a consultation with the patient-centered surgeon, call the office in Queen Creek, Arizona, today or book an appointment online.
Carotid artery disease is caused by plaque buildup along the walls of your carotid arteries. These main arteries transport blood into your head and brain. This narrowing increases your risk of a blockage that can lead to a stroke.
The narrowing of the artery happens gradually. Most people don’t realize they have a severe health problem until they suffer a stroke. Dr. Balraj is an experienced vascular and endovascular surgeon who believes prevention is the cure.
In addition to providing surgery to treat carotid artery disease, he also offers medical management of this severe health condition.
Carotid artery surgery refers to the various surgeries that Dr. Balraj uses to open up your narrowed arteries. Dr. Balraj’s goal during carotid artery surgery is to restore blood flow to your brain and prevent severe complications from developing.
Dr. Balraj does a thorough evaluation to determine if you need carotid artery surgery. He’ll recommend surgery if the blockage reduces blood flow by 70% or more.
Dr. Balraj might also recommend carotid artery surgery if you’ve suffered a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (a temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain) anytime in the past.
At Vascular Institute of Arizona, Dr. Balraj uses many surgical techniques when performing carotid artery surgery. He has the lowest stroke rate in the Valley.
The types of procedures include:
During carotid stenting, Dr. Balraj inserts a catheter into a blood vessel and advances it to your blocked carotid artery. He inflates a surgical balloon to open the artery. He then places a stent — a surgical mesh tube — to reinforce the blood vessel wall and keep it open.
The traditional CEA is an open surgery. During this carotid artery surgery, Dr. Balraj makes an incision through the blocked artery and removes the plaque.
TCAR is a more advanced surgery used by Dr. Balraj to reduce your risk of a stroke.
During the procedure, he makes a small incision at the site of your blocked or narrowed carotid artery. He then uses a device to redirect blood flow while he clears away the plaque blocking your artery.
TCAR is similar to the traditional CEA, but its use of innovative tools and techniques reduces recovery time and surgical risk.
After your surgery, Dr. Balraj schedules regular follow-up appointments to monitor your vascular health.
To schedule a consultation with one of the top vascular surgeons in Arizona, call the Vascular Institute of Arizona today or book an appointment online.
