Latest Carotid Artery Disease Treatment in Delhi NCR: Surgery vs Non-Surgical Care

By Dr. Vikas Kathuria. This is what patients and their caregivers need to know about the choices they have, what happens after they make these choices and where they can get care in Delhi NCR. Patients and caregivers in Delhi NCR have to make some decisions about medical care. Patients and caregivers must think about the choices they have for care in Delhi NCR.

What are these choices for patients and caregivers in Delhi NCR?

Patients and caregivers need to know what happens after they choose a type of medical care in Delhi NCR. The outcomes of these choices are very important for patients and caregivers in Delhi NCR. Patients and caregivers also need to know where to go for care in Delhi NCR. There are places that offer medical care in Delhi NCR so patients and caregivers must find the best one for them.

Intro 

Carotid artery disease is one of the major causes of ischemic stroke. When this condition is diagnosed and treated at the right time, the risk of future stroke can be significantly reduced. Today, patients in Delhi NCR have access to advanced and modern treatment options for carotid artery disease.

Treatment options include carotid endarterectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove plaque from the artery. There are also minimally invasive procedures such as carotid angioplasty and stenting, which help restore proper blood flow to the brain. In addition, non-surgical approaches like medical therapy, lifestyle modification, and endovascular techniques are now widely used to manage carotid artery disease effectively.

This article explains the different treatment options available, the purpose of carotid surgery, and how to choose the right hospital and specialist for carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR. It also shares expert insights from neurosurgeons and brain specialists, which are crucial when planning carotid artery disease treatment.

Carotid artery disease occurs when the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup. These arteries play a vital role in brain health. When they are blocked, blood flow to the brain is reduced, which can lead to serious complications, including stroke. A stroke can cause permanent brain damage, making timely treatment extremely important.

What is carotid artery disease and why early treatment matters?

Early treatment of carotid artery disease can be life-saving. It greatly lowers the chances of stroke and other severe neurological problems. This condition develops when fatty plaques narrow the carotid arteries, reducing blood supply to the brain. Severe narrowing can result in transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or major ischemic strokes.

Carotid artery disease can be detected early using diagnostic tests such as duplex ultrasound, CT angiography, or MR angiography. When identified at an early stage, doctors can recommend the most suitable treatment to prevent serious strokes.

Several advanced hospitals in Delhi NCR offer comprehensive diagnostic and treatment facilities for carotid artery disease. These hospitals have multidisciplinary teams of neurologists, neurosurgeons, and vascular specialists who work together to create personalized treatment plans, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients.

The two main procedural approaches: surgery vs endovascular (angioplasty + stenting)

1. Carotid endarterectomy (open surgery) — the traditional gold standard

The carotid endarterectomy is a kind of surgery where the doctor cuts open the carotid artery. Take out the bad stuff that is blocking it. This surgery has been done for a time and it is still the best choice for a lot of people who have bad blockages in their carotid artery and are having symptoms. The carotid endarterectomy is an option when the surgery is not too risky and the carotid artery is in a good place. In Delhi NCR the carotid endarterectomy is often done by doctors who do this surgery a lot and have a team of specialists who help them. The carotid endarterectomy is done by these teams because they have a lot of experience with this kind of surgery.

Key points (CEA):

• Best choice for many patients with symptomatic, high-grade carotid stenosis.
• Requires general or regional anaesthesia and a short hospital stay.

When you have this kind of surgery there are some risks. The risks include hurting the nerves in your head problems with the wound and having a stroke during or after the operation.. If the doctors and nurses are very experienced they can keep these problems from happening very often. This is because experienced teams know what they are doing and they take care of the patient, which keeps the complication rates low for the patient and that is a good thing for the surgery and for the patient having the surgery.

2. Carotid angioplasty and stenting — minimally invasive alternative

Carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR, which people often refer to as carotid angioplasty and stenting or CAS is a way to fix the carotid artery using a tube. Doctors make a hole usually in the groin area and then they use this tube to put a balloon and a special mesh called a stent into the carotid artery. They blow up the balloon to open up the artery. Then they leave the mesh there to keep it open. This carotid angioplasty surgery is not as serious as surgery so it is a good option for people who have other health problems that make open surgery more dangerous. It is also a choice when the doctor has a hard time getting to the carotid artery, with regular surgery.

Key points (CAS):

• Minimally invasive; often shorter recovery and hospital stay.
• Best suited for select patients: high surgical risk, prior neck surgery/radiation, or hostile neck anatomy.
• You need to have experienced neurointerventionalists or vascular intervention teams to do this job. The centres in Delhi NCR are able to do Carotid Artery Stenting, with the embolic protection devices and they have good imaging support.

Non-surgical care: when medical therapy is the right choice

Not every patient with carotid plaque needs to have a procedure done. Some patients with carotid plaque do not need a procedure. For patients with carotid plaque, especially those with mild carotid plaque or patients with carotid plaque who do not have any symptoms, the best medical treatment for patients with carotid plaque is very important. The best medical treatment for patients with carotid plaque may be the thing doctors try for patients with carotid plaque. The best medical treatment for patients, with carotid plaque usually includes:

• Antiplatelet therapy (aspirin ± clopidogrel when indicated).
• Intensive lipid lowering (statins; often aiming for aggressive LDL targets).
• Blood pressure control, diabetes management, and smoking cessation.
• Lifestyle interventions: diet, exercise, and cardiac risk factor modification.

In Delhi NCR, patient care has evolved into a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. Neurologists, vascular surgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, and cardiac specialists work closely together to evaluate each case comprehensively. Through detailed discussions and clinical assessments, the team determines whether a patient would benefit more from an interventional procedure—such as carotid endarterectomy or carotid angioplasty and stenting—or from optimized medical therapy alone. This coordinated decision-making ensures that every patient receives a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan designed to achieve the safest and most effective outcomes.

Doctors have to make a decision when it comes to treating patients. They have to figure out if the patient needs surgery or if they should do a procedure called CAS or if they should just use therapy to help the patient. The doctors think about what’s best for the patient and they consider the patient’s health and what the problem is. They look at the patient’s situation. Decide if surgery is the way to go or if CAS is a better option or if medical therapy is the best choice. They think about the benefits and risks of each option, like surgery, CAS or medical therapy. They choose the one that will help the patient the most.

How do doctors decide between surgery, CAS, or medical management for treatment?

Decision-making rests on several variables:

Symptoms: People who have symptoms like those who had a mini stroke or a small stroke because of carotid stenosis are the ones who will benefit the most from having their carotid stenosis treated. Carotid stenosis, with high-grade narrowing is what these people usually have. They are the ones who will probably get the benefit from revascularization to treat their carotid stenosis.

Degree of stenosis: The degree of stenosis is usually measured using a Doppler test, a CT-angiogram or an MR-angiogram. This is how doctors find out how bad the degree of stenosis really is. They use these tests to look at the degree of stenosis and see what is going on. The degree of stenosis is a thing to check.

Patient comorbidity and anatomy : The patient’s other health problems and body structure are important to think about. If a patient has had neck surgery before or has had radiotherapy or has a heart or lung problem then this might make CAS a better choice. On the other hand if the patient has very hard lesions or the anatomy of their arch is complicated then CEA might be a better option for the patient. This is because the patient’s comorbidity and anatomy can affect the outcome of the treatment so doctors need to consider these factors when deciding between CAS and CEA for the patient.

Local expertise and hospital resources : When it comes to getting the results, the hospital you choose really matters. You see the people who do the procedures and the hospital itself play a role. So it is an idea to go to hospitals in Delhi NCR that have a lot of experience with vascular and neurointerventional programmes. This means they do these kinds of procedures a lot, which’s good for you. Local expertise and hospital resources are very important. The more they do these procedures the better they get at it. That is why you should choose a hospital that has a lot of experience with these kinds of programmes.

What does the evidence and what people are doing in our area tell us about how things compare?

Large clinical studies comparing carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) have demonstrated that both procedures effectively reduce the risk of stroke in appropriately selected patients and are often more beneficial than medical therapy alone. However, the peri-procedural risks—such as stroke, heart attack, or other complications—can vary between the two techniques and are influenced by patient-specific factors as well as the experience and expertise of the treating team.

Across hospitals in Delhi NCR, both CAS and CEA are routinely offered as treatment options for carotid artery disease. The choice of procedure is individualized, taking into account the patient’s overall health, anatomical considerations, risk profile, and clinical history. This personalized approach ensures the safest and most effective outcomes.

For patients considering carotid angioplasty surgery or comprehensive carotid artery disease treatment in Delhi NCR, it is advisable to evaluate the centre’s experience and outcomes. Ask about the number of procedures performed annually, complication rates, and whether a multidisciplinary team—including neurologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional specialists—collaborates regularly to review cases and optimize stroke prevention strategies. Such coordinated care plays a crucial role in achieving successful treatment results.

What to expect with carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR (CAS pathway)

• Pre-procedure evaluation: imaging (duplex + CTA/MRA), cardiac clearance, and antiplatelet planning.

• Day of procedure: conscious sedation or general anaesthesia; arterial access, placement of embolic protection device (in many centres), balloon dilatation and stent deployment.

• Recovery: Recovery from this is usually pretty quick. You will be watched closely for 24 to 48 hours. The doctor will also tell you to take two kinds of medicine to stop your blood from clotting for a while. The good thing is that you can get back to your life much faster than if you had open surgery. This is because recovery time is shorter. The doctor will give you advice on when you can return to your activities after the recovery.

Choosing the right centre and specialist in Delhi NCR

When searching for carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR or carotid artery disease treatment in Delhi NCR, consider:

• Team composition: availability of neurointerventionalists, vascular surgeons, stroke neurologists, and a dedicated ICU.

• Technology: modern angiography suites, embolic protection devices, and intraprocedural imaging.

• Outcomes transparency : an idea to ask about complication rates and experience. If you are looking for a place to get this done you should know that big hospitals in Delhi NCR such as Apollo, Fortis, BLK-Max and specialist vascular units do a lot of these procedures.

• Commonly offer two types of procedures: Carotid Artery Stenting, which is also known as CAS and Carotid Endarterectomy which is also known as CEA. I think it is an idea to see a specialist who has a lot of experience with carotid problems. Neurosurgeons and interventionalists are the doctors who can help with these problems. They should have carotid experience. For example Dr. Vikas Kathuria is a doctor in Gurgaon who has a lot of experience. He does both surgery and endovascular procedures.

Patients usually like to go to a specialist who talks to doctors to make decisions. This means the specialist is part of a team that includes different kinds of doctors. The specialist works with doctors to decide what is best for the patient. Neurosurgeons and interventionalists with carotid experience are very important, for patients who need this kind of help.

Q: Is carotid angioplasty safer than surgery?
A: “Safer” depends on the patient. CAS is less invasive and may have faster recovery, but perioperative stroke risk varies by operator experience and patient anatomy. CEA remains the preferred option for many symptomatic, high-grade lesions. Discuss individualized risk with your treating team.

Q: How long is hospital stay after CAS?
A: Many patients go home in 24–48 hours depending on recovery and monitoring needs.

Q: What follow-up is needed after either procedure?
A: Regular duplex ultrasound surveillance and cardiovascular risk management; antiplatelet and statin therapy as prescribed.

Practical checklist before booking a procedure in Delhi NCR

• Get copies of your duplex ultrasound and CTA/MRA.
• Request a multidisciplinary review (neurology + vascular/interventional + anaesthesia).
• Ask about operator volume and outcomes for carotid procedures.
• Confirm post-procedure care and follow-up plan (medications, rehab, surveillance).

If you want to see a doctor who really knows what they are doing you can go to some places in Gurgaon and Delhi. These places have doctors like Dr. Vikas Kathuria who’s a specialist in neurosurgery. Dr. Vikas Kathuria deals with problems in the brain and arteries in the neck. You can meet with Dr. Vikas Kathuria to talk about your health.

Final perspective — balancing risk, benefit, and quality of life

People who need carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR and carotid artery disease treatment in Delhi NCR have options now. This is because doctors have got better at doing surgeries and using techniques. The best results happen when doctors find the problem early. Then they can help the patient reduce their health risks and talk to them about what to do. When it comes to carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR and carotid artery disease treatment in Delhi NCR the patient needs to decide if they want to have surgery or keep taking medicine. You should pick a hospital that has doctors who know a lot of things. Ask the doctors how times they have done carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR and carotid artery disease treatment in Delhi NCR and what happened to their patients.

It is also an idea to include the patient and their family in the decision-making process about carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR and carotid artery disease treatment, in Delhi NCR. If you’d like, I can help you draft questions to take to your specialist appointment or compile a shortlist of Delhi NCR centres and specialists for carotid angioplasty surgery in Delhi NCR including contact info and what to ask at your visit.