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: 3/19/2008 Subject: neck carotid artery vascular surgery
Question What test should be done before neck this type of surgery?
Answer I have not examined you or the patient in question, 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.
Carotid artery endarterectomy is the operation I am assuming you are referring to and the most common test preceding the procedure is a duplex ultrasound to ascertain the degree of narrowing. An arteriogram, where dye is injected into the artery via a catheter placed in the aorta is also commonly done. Further testing may involve testing of the patient's basic metabolic functions and the status of the heart. I hope this helps.
