AboutLauri Ordway Expertise I can answer your questions related to peripheral vacular disorders. This includes all arteries and veins except those inside the head and inside the heart. IE: neck (carotid), arms (carotid subclavian bypases to Thoracic Outlet) belly (aortic aneurysm & occlusive disorders, renal artery stenosis), legs (iliac, femoral, popliteal, peroneal, dorasalis pedis, posterior and anterior tibial) arteries. Aneurysm & occlusive disease, atherosclerosis, leg pain, arterial wounds and gangrene, amputation prevention. Vein disorders: Blood Clots (DVT), post-phlebetic syndrome, varicose veins, venous stasis ulcers. I can help with vascular wound treatments. Also, Raynauds, Buerger`s disease, Thoracic Outlet and other miscellaneous vascular disorders.
I CANNOT answer questions about your heart disease, blood pressure, brain aneurysm, although I can help with questions about the arteries that go to and from those organs.
Experience I am a nurse, I have worked for 14 years with two terrific peripheral vascular surgeons, one of them is also the inventor of very innovative wound care products and surgical instruments to make vascular surgery procedures better and faster. I wrote and manage our clinic website and field questions from patients all over the world.
Expert: Lauri Ordway Date: 11/18/2002 Subject: CAROTID ARTERY SURGEY
Question MY 86 YEAR OLD FATHER IS SCHEDULED TO HAVE HIS RIGHT CAROTID ARTERY "CLEANED" TOMORROW UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA. MRA TEST SHOWS NEARLY COMPLETE BLOCKAGE, RECENTLY EXPERIENCED NUMBNESS IN LEFT LEG & SLIGHT DIZZYNESS.
QUESTION: IS GENERAL ANESTHESIA ALWAYS USED FOR THIS PROCEDURE? HIS DOCTOR SAID THERE WAS NO REASON TO BE CONCERNED. I'M NOT SO SURE.
Answer hi, oh I understand it is a scarey thing to think about, neck surgery, but, in the hands of a skilled vascular surgeon, this is an easy, fairly quick surgery. if your dad really can't tolerate anesthesia, there are surgeons who wil do it under local anesthesia, but it is almost as hard on the patient as a general because the patient is awake while someone is "cutting their throat" so most patients get pretty "wild" and this stress the body, just like a general.
usually the surgery lasts an hour or less, EEG monitoring is used to monitor brain function and the patient is home in 2 days or so.
I hope this helps. if he has a near total occlusion there are no other options by the way, once that occlusion reaches 100%, nothing can be done.
