Two carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, supply blood and oxygen to the brain. An area within each artery, called the carotid sinus, is sensitive to any change in blood pressure. The carotid body is an area of tissue near the carotid...
Endovascular surgery is a recently developed technique used to treat aneurysms, which are small, weakened areas in the walls of blood vessel that balloon outward from the blood vessel. In contrast to the alternate treatment of open surgery,...
Stroke, also called a brain attack, occurs as a result of restricted blood flow to the brain. Often caused by the formation of blood clots, ruptured blood vessels or the buildup of plaque---a sticky substance made of cholesterol, fat, calcium and...
The carotid arteries of the neck carry oxygenated blood flow from the heart and body to the brain. Narrowing and blockages of the carotid arteries increase the risk of transient ischemic attacks, hemorrhages or bleeding and strokes. The Heart and...
Acute strokes occur in the brain without much warning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly more than 795,000 Americans suffer from strokes annually. Of these patients, up to 30 percent remain permanently disabled....
An aneurysm, or bulge in the diameter of an artery, can occur in any artery of the body when its outer wall weakens. Abdominal aneurysm actually refers to the weakening and bulging of the abdominal segment of the aorta, the major artery that...
More than half a million Americans have heart surgery each year, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Types of heart surgeries include coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve replacement and aneurysm repairs. No matter the...
Several types of neurological surgeries are used to treat medical conditions such as Parkinson's disease, mental health problems such as depression, and vascular problems such as blood clots and aneurysms. These surgeries use electrical...
An aneurysm is a weak point in a blood vessel, where the walls push out like a balloon. Aneurysms often occur in the brain, and the National Institutes of Health estimates that as much as 5 percent of Americans might have an undetected brain...