Endovascular carotid angioplasty

In carotid angioplasty and prosthesis placement endovascular, a long, hollow tube, called a catheter, is inserted into the femoral artery at the level of the groin, the catheter is guided through the arteries until it reaches the narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck. An umbrella-shaped filter is placed after narrowing to capture any plate or debris that may come off during the procedure; a small balloon is inflated at the end of the catheter to push the plate against the wall of the vessel, and thus to enlarge the artery. A small metal coil, called a stent, is inserted into the vessel and serves as a support to help prevent the artery from narrowing again.