A member of the American Board of Cardiology, Aiman Hamdan is a former clinical instructor at Seton Hall University. While at training. Aiman Hamdan participated in more than 18 carotid artery cases and has performed over 15,000 procedures during practice, including angioplasty, subclavian artery intervention and valvuloplasty.
A condition where a bulge develops in one of the walls of the carotid artery due to the weakness of the artery wall at that point, extracranial carotid artery aneurysm can result in the formation of blood clots, which, when broken, can block the flow of blood to the brain. Accounting for about 0.1 to 2 percent of all carotid interventions, extracranial carotid artery aneurysms can sometimes result in a variety of neurological deficits, including ischemic retinopathy and cerebral transient ischemic attack. Often, extracranial carotid artery aneurysms do not exhibit symptoms, but if the clot is large enough, it can result in a change in voice, facial swelling, and difficulty swallowing.
The chances of developing extracranial carotid artery aneurysm increases as a person ages, although it can be triggered by smoking. A family history of aneurysm, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and connective tissue disorder also increase a person's chance of developing the disorder. A person with symptoms or risk of having extracranial carotid artery aneurysm should talk to their doctor, as the condition can result in stroke in some cases. Often, extracranial carotid artery aneurysm is diagnosed by the doctor with the aid of echocardiography, MRI, angiography, or CT scan. For aneurysm associated with small clots, medications that lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, or dissolve clots, coupled with periodic monitoring of the condition, can help control it. Those associated with large clots may require endovascular stent grafting or surgery.
A condition where a bulge develops in one of the walls of the carotid artery due to the weakness of the artery wall at that point, extracranial carotid artery aneurysm can result in the formation of blood clots, which, when broken, can block the flow of blood to the brain. Accounting for about 0.1 to 2 percent of all carotid interventions, extracranial carotid artery aneurysms can sometimes result in a variety of neurological deficits, including ischemic retinopathy and cerebral transient ischemic attack. Often, extracranial carotid artery aneurysms do not exhibit symptoms, but if the clot is large enough, it can result in a change in voice, facial swelling, and difficulty swallowing.
The chances of developing extracranial carotid artery aneurysm increases as a person ages, although it can be triggered by smoking. A family history of aneurysm, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and connective tissue disorder also increase a person's chance of developing the disorder. A person with symptoms or risk of having extracranial carotid artery aneurysm should talk to their doctor, as the condition can result in stroke in some cases. Often, extracranial carotid artery aneurysm is diagnosed by the doctor with the aid of echocardiography, MRI, angiography, or CT scan. For aneurysm associated with small clots, medications that lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, or dissolve clots, coupled with periodic monitoring of the condition, can help control it. Those associated with large clots may require endovascular stent grafting or surgery.
