What complication can carotid stenosis lead to?

Carotid stenosis refers to the narrowing of the carotid arteries, which are vital blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. When these arteries become narrowed, there is an increased risk of reducing blood flow to the brain, which can lead to a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), commonly known as a stroke. This is the primary complication associated with carotid stenosis because the decreased blood flow can result in ischemia and necrosis of brain tissue.

In patients with significant carotid stenosis, pieces of plaque can also break off and travel to smaller cerebral arteries, leading to occlusions that result in strokes. Thus, the connection between carotid stenosis and the risk of CVA is well-established in medical literature. In contrast, while heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism are important cardiovascular events, they are not directly caused by carotid stenosis itself. Each of these conditions arises from different pathophysiological processes unrelated to the narrowing of the carotid arteries.