Carotid artery stenosis

In carotid artery stenosis, atherosclerotic plaque narrows the passage for blood to the eye and brain. The narrowing itself often causes no sensation in the neck, but material that breaks away may cause a TIA or stroke. New loss of facial, arm, speech or visual function is therefore an immediate emergency, even if it disappears within minutes.

• Often there are no symptoms; the narrowing is found incidentally during vascular investigations or after investigation for a TIA or stroke.
• Sudden facial droop, weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body.
• Learn to recognise sudden stroke signs and immediately record when the person was last without loss of function.
• Stop smoking completely and seek support if you cannot manage alone; cutting down reduces risk less than stopping completely.
• Get in touch the same day if a new carotid bruit or stenosis on a scan has been reported, so severity, cause and vascular risk can be carefully assessed.
• For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.
• Sudden facial droop, one-sided arm or leg weakness, speech difficulty or vision loss is an immediate emergency, even if it disappears within minutes.