Carotid Pathology Unit

The Carotid Pathology Unit at the Publio Cordón Memorial Hospital forms part of the Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery and specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the carotid arteries, with a clinical approach focused on the prevention of ischaemic stroke and other associated neurological complications.

The unit treats patients with carotid disease across its entire spectrum, from early stages to advanced and complex cases. Its work focuses primarily on carotid stenosis of atherosclerotic origin, as well as on other less common conditions requiring a high degree of specialisation and surgical expertise, such as carotid glomus tumours.

Carotid conditions we treat

The unit specialises in treating the following conditions:

• Carotid artery stenosis, both symptomatic and asymptomatic.

• Primary and secondary prevention of ischaemic stroke.

• Carotid lesions associated with advanced atherosclerotic disease.

• Carotid glomus tumours and other rare lesions of the carotid bifurcation.

Each patient is assessed on an individual basis, taking into account their clinical condition, risk profile and overall circumstances.

How treatment is assessed and decided upon

The care process begins with a thorough clinical assessment, based on active listening and a detailed analysis of the patient’s medical history and symptoms.

The assessment is complemented by vascular imaging tests such as Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries, computed tomography angiography (CT angiography) or magnetic resonance angiography, which enable a precise assessment of the degree of stenosis, the morphology of the lesion and its impact on cerebral blood flow.

This information is key to deciding, based on expert judgement, whether treatment should be medical or surgical and to determining the most appropriate time for intervention, always taking into account the clinical profile, neurological risk and overall condition of each patient.

Surgical treatment of carotid disease

Where indicated, the standard surgical treatment is carotid endarterectomy, a procedure designed to remove the atheromatous plaque responsible for the arterial blockage and reduce the risk of stroke.

The procedure is carried out following careful planning and may be performed under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the patient’s circumstances and the nature of the lesion. The team’s expertise enables them to perform this procedure with a high degree of safety and precision.

The Unit also has experience in the surgical treatment of carotid glomus tumours, a rare condition that requires meticulous planning due to its anatomical complexity.

Medical team and care model

The Carotid Pathology Unit has a medical team with a high level of specialisation in vascular surgery, equipped to handle everything from initial cases to highly complex situations.

The care model is based on clinical judgement, appropriate therapeutic indications and continuous patient support. Care is underpinned by the time devoted to explaining, assessing and making decisions, incorporating the values of clinical humanism and patient safety upheld by the Publio Cordón Memorial Hospital.