About Curtis J. Edwards, MD, FACS Expertise Semi-retired, general and vascular surgery questions, veins arteries and questions related to the thorax. Seventeen years practice experience. I ran the non-invasive vascular lab at a major teaching hospital prior to attending medical school. While in private practice treated diseases of the peripheral veins and arteries including venous injection and ablation procedures, and arterial bypass grafting, and endarterectomy.
Experience Seventeen years private practice, general, peripheral vascular, non-cardiac thoracic surgery (semi-retired). Aviation medicine.
Organizations College of Surgeons, AMA, Aerospace Medical Assoc.
Education/Credentials BA,MD, American Board of Surgery, Fellow American College of Surgeons, Senior FAA Aerospace Medical Examiner
Expert: Curtis J. Edwards, MD, FACS Date: 3/10/2008 Subject: 50to60% right carotid arthery blockage
Question I am a 54 year old relatively healthy and active female recently dx with hypertension. Never smoked , exercise regularly, and not over weight. Cholesterol has always been low at this time it is 200 and I have not been prescribed medication for it.
Family history mother heart problems first MI @ age 60 and stroke at age 67.I have seen a vascular specialist he is going to monitor this every 6 months. My question is do I also need to see a cardiologist I am concerned that if I have blockage in my carotid arteries can there be blockage other places like my heart? My family Dr. tired to order a CT scan of my heart but insurance denied it. Help !thank you for your time
Answer I have not examined you reviewed the medical record, associated laboratory studies, or imaging. What follows is offered to you for information purposes, only and does not constitute treatment. I advise an examination from a qualified healthcare professional before undertaking any course of treatment.
You are correct in your assumption that patients with carotid occlusive disease can have concomitant peripheral vascular and coronary artery disease. The problem is the imaging study itself. The CT scan is not accepted as a study routinely used for diagnosing hemodynamically significant disease, because of a lack of specificity and cost.
A stress test, either a treadmill, stress echo or stress myocardial perfusion scan is the test of choice. You have risk factors so a stress test can be justified to rule out myocardial disease. The test(s) is not pleasant, but is will give you the information you seek.
