Carotid Dissection

Carotid dissection is a breakdown in the carotid artery that triggers a tear in the artery wall. The tear may narrow the opening in the vessel. Common causes are hyperextension of the neck, chiropractic manipulation or attempted strangulation. Symptoms include headache, severe pain at the carotid artery, drooping eyelid, or small pupils.

Best in Care

The AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute is a state-of-the-art facility for adults and children affected by carotid dissection. We specialize in minimally invasive treatments, including interventional neuroradiology (INR), a new procedure available at just a few medical centers in the country. INR allows our neurosurgeons to view real-time, 3-D images of the surgical area and perform the entire operation through an endoscope – a tube – so that an incision in the head and brain tissue is not needed. These advanced techniques minimize damage to surrounding tissue and result in less scarring and pain. Patients also generally recover more quickly.