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: 7/25/2007 Subject: candidate for carotid endarterectomy
Question My father, who is 69 yrs old, was informed that the left carotid artery is completely blocked and there is 70%-80% blockage on his right side. I understand that nothing can be done about the complete blockage but could he still have surgery on the other artery? He has already had a stroke, about 2 yrs ago. And we were told that he probably had another small one about a month ago, for which he did not seek medical attention. We have 4 arteries,right? Does this mean that the other 2 arteries are OK? How concerned do we need to be?
Answer As I have not examined your father or reviewed his chart, angiograms or carotid duplex scan, I can only provide information. Yes, the brain receives blood from two major arteries the right and left carotid and right and left vertebral. The carotids subdivide into external and internal. There is collateral or cross-over flow through the face that can get into the brain to help when one or more arteries are narrowed or occluded. He needs an evaluation for the recent stroke as it may be he is beginning to have problems with the narrowed artery on the right. An adjustment in medication and a discussion of the options is probably in order.
