A carotid endarterectomy can significantly reduce the risk of a stroke in people with severely narrowed carotid arteries.

In people who have previously had a stroke or a TIA, surgery can significantly reduce their risk of having another stroke or TIA.

It’s now thought the operation should be carried out as soon as possible after symptoms appear. It’s therefore important to get immediate medical advice if you experience symptoms such as:

• numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg
  speech problems
• loss of vision in 1 eye