A carotid stent is a small wire mesh tube that is used to hold open a carotid artery that has been narrowed by artery disease (atherosclerosis). The carotid arteries are blood vessels that are located in the neck and supply blood to the head and brain.

Atherosclerosis is a disease that affects the blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is caused by fatty, cholesterol deposits that begin within the blood vessel wall and eventually progress to cause narrowing of the blood vessel itself. This narrowing can block blood flow through the artery.

To begin a carotid stenting procedure, a thin guide wire is inserted into a small incision in the arm or upper thigh. This process is usually visualized using x-rays and a special dye that helps reveal the arteries. This guide wire is carefully through the arteries until it reaches the carotid artery. Then a thin tube with a balloon at its tip (called a balloon catheter) is inserted over the guide wire until it reaches the renal artery. The balloon is then inflated inside the narrowed artery. This pushes the artery walls open and this is called angioplasty. The balloon is deflated and the catheter is removed. Another balloon catheter with a collapsed stent over the balloon is then inserted over the guide wire. Once in place, the balloon is inflated. The stent is expanded by the balloon. The balloon is deflated and the stent remains in place. The catheter and guidewire are then removed.

Carotid Artery Stenting Images

The illustration shows the process of carotid artery stenting. Figure A shows an internal carotid artery that has plaque buildup and reduced blood flow. The inset image shows a cross-section of the narrowed carotid artery. Figure B shows a stent being placed in the carotid artery to hold back plaque and keep the artery open. Figure C shows normal blood flow restored in the stent-widened artery. The inset image shows a cross-section of the stent-widened artery.