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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Blockage Of Carotid Artery

My Dad just had a double bi-pass and is on peritoneal dialysis. He also has 98% blockage of one of his carotid arteries. He seems very confused and is hallucinating. The Dr. changed his pain meds but he still seems confused. Would this have anything to do with the fact that now his heart is pumping correctly but is putting pressure on the carotid artery?
Mon, 28 Sep 2015
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Hi. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.

A carotid artery blockage of over 90% is always a severe and significant blockage and requires proper treatment. It is normal to be accompanied with symptoms such as bouts of confusion, dizzy spells, blurry vision, and other neurological symptoms, because, even when the heart is pumping appropriately, brain does not get enough blood supply due to this blockage. It is the same history as coronary artery blockages, heart suffers from not getting enough blood supply and produces cardiac symptoms such as angina or shortness of breath.

These blockages cannot be treated with medication. Certainly, medical therapy, at best, can only halt the progression to more severe blockage. Therefore, the strategies, depending on doctor's choice are treating this blockage with stent implantation or with vascular surgery. Depending from your country or his hospital, stent implantation in peripheral arteries are carried out by invasive radiologists or cardiologists. I recommend a consult with a vascular surgeon and the proper weighing of the situation will be made, and then decided which procedure is more suitable in this case.

I hope this was helpful.

Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
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Suggest Treatment For Blockage Of Carotid Artery

Hi. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. A carotid artery blockage of over 90% is always a severe and significant blockage and requires proper treatment. It is normal to be accompanied with symptoms such as bouts of confusion, dizzy spells, blurry vision, and other neurological symptoms, because, even when the heart is pumping appropriately, brain does not get enough blood supply due to this blockage. It is the same history as coronary artery blockages, heart suffers from not getting enough blood supply and produces cardiac symptoms such as angina or shortness of breath. These blockages cannot be treated with medication. Certainly, medical therapy, at best, can only halt the progression to more severe blockage. Therefore, the strategies, depending on doctor s choice are treating this blockage with stent implantation or with vascular surgery. Depending from your country or his hospital, stent implantation in peripheral arteries are carried out by invasive radiologists or cardiologists. I recommend a consult with a vascular surgeon and the proper weighing of the situation will be made, and then decided which procedure is more suitable in this case. I hope this was helpful. Best regards, Dr. Meriton