Stroke treatment: Surgery

Some people who had a stroke need surgery. There are two types of surgeries.

Craniotomy

A neurosurgeon makes an opening in the skull to reach the brain. He or she may do either:

• treatment of aneurysm: clipping: The neurosurgeon places a small clip on the blood vessel to seal off the blood flow to the aneurysm.

or

• treatment of life-threatening brain swelling: The neurosurgeon reduces pressure in the brain caused by bleeding. Surgery is rarely needed on people who have non-bleeding (ischemic) strokes.

Carotid endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy (carotid artery surgery) is a surgery for people who have narrowed carotid arteries.

The surgeon cleans plaque (a fatty substance) out of the carotid artery. This can help prevent a stroke.

This surgery cannot be done on a totally blocked carotid artery.