Discharge Instructions for Carotid Endarterectomy 

A carotid endarterectomy restores normal blood flow through the vessels that carry blood to your brain. These vessels are called the carotid arteries. During the surgery, a surgeon made a small incision in the side of your neck, just below your jaw. The artery was opened and the blockage was cleared. This procedure was done to reduce your risk of a stroke. A stroke can occur when the carotid arteries are severely blocked or narrowed.

Ask a friend or family member to help with chores.

Home care

• Spend your first few days after surgery resting at home. You can do quiet activities such as reading or watching TV.

• Take your medicines exactly as instructed. Don’t skip doses.

• Check your incision every day for signs of infection. These include redness, swelling, drainage, or warmth.

• Keep the wound dry until your healthcare provider says it's OK to shower. Don't scrub your incision.

• Shave carefully around your incision. You may want to use an electric razor.

• Know that you may have some loss of feeling along your jaw line, the incision line, and earlobe. This is a result of the incision. Feeling should come back in 6 to 12 months.

• Slowly increase your activity. It may take some time for you to return to your normal activities.

• Don't do strenuous activity for 7 to 10 days after your surgery.

• Don’t lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 2 to 3 weeks after your surgery.

• Don’t drive until your healthcare provider says it’s OK. This will most likely be 1 to 2 weeks.

• Ask your healthcare provider when you can expect to return to work.

Long-term changes at home

• Eat a healthy diet. Make sure your diet is low in fat, cholesterol, and calories. Ask your healthcare provider for menus and other diet help.

• Maintain a healthy body weight.

• After you recover from surgery, try to exercise more. Do as much walking as you can. Ask your healthcare provider for more tips.

• If you smoke, ask your healthcare provider for help quitting. 

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment as directed.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following:

• Neck swelling

• Redness, pain, swelling, or fluid from your incision

• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

When to call 911

A stroke is a medical emergency. Call 911 right away if you have any of these symptoms of a stroke:

• Weakness, tingling, or loss of feeling on one side of your face or body

• Sudden double vision or trouble seeing in one or both eyes

• Sudden trouble talking or slurred speech

• Sudden, severe headache

B.E. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the signs of a stroke. When you see these signs, call 911 fast.

B.E. F.A.S.T. stands for:

• B is for balance. Sudden loss of balance or coordination.

• E is for eyes. Vision changes in one or both eyes.

• F is for face drooping. One side of the face is drooping or numb. When the person smiles, the smile is uneven.

• A is for arm weakness. One arm is weak or numb. When the person lifts both arms at the same time, one arm may drift downward.

• S is for speech difficulty. You may notice slurred speech or trouble speaking. The person can't repeat a simple sentence correctly when asked.

• T is for time to call 911. If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if they go away, call 911 right away. Make note of the time the symptoms first appeared.