Procedure prep
Fasting Before a Carotid Endarterectomy
A carotid endarterectomy clears fatty narrowing from the main artery in your neck to lower your risk of stroke. It can be done under general anesthetic or with you awake under a local/regional block, and a few medicine points are specific to this operation.
Fasting for this procedure
→ Get your exact fasting times with the calculator
Medicines to check
- Aspirin or another antiplatelet is usually continued — it protects against stroke around the operation. Don't stop it unless specifically told. See medications to stop.
- Other blood thinners (warfarin, DOACs) — managed on a plan by your team.
- Statins and blood-pressure medicines are usually continued; good blood-pressure control matters a lot here — confirm each with a sip of water.
- Diabetes medicines & insulin need a fasting-day plan. See diabetes tablets.
When this surgery may be delayed
- Very high or poorly controlled blood pressure
- Fever, a new cough/cold, or a chest infection
- A skin infection on the neck
- An unstable heart problem the team wants to settle first
- You ate or drank outside your fasting window
Reports & documents to carry
- Photo ID and your insurance or hospital paperwork
- A current list of all your medicines, doses, and allergies
- Your carotid ultrasound or angiogram and recent blood tests
- A record of recent blood-pressure readings if you monitor at home
- A bag for a short stay (often with overnight monitoring) and a ride home
What to ask your anesthesia team
- Will I be asleep, or awake with the neck numbed?
- Should I keep taking my aspirin and other tablets?
- How will my blood pressure be managed around the operation?
- Might I notice neck numbness or a voice change afterward?
- How long will I stay, and what are the warning signs at home?
Your prep checklist
Tick things off as you sort them — saved on this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.
A general guide — your hospital's own instructions always come first.
Frequently asked questions
Should I keep taking aspirin before a carotid operation?
Usually yes. Aspirin (or a similar antiplatelet) helps prevent a stroke around the time of carotid surgery, so it's typically continued rather than stopped. Other blood thinners are handled case by case. As always, follow your surgeon's specific instruction and don't stop anything on your own.
Will I be awake during a carotid endarterectomy?
It depends on the center and on you. Some are done under general anesthetic; others with you awake under a neck block, which lets the team check your speech and movement during the operation. Both are safe, well-established approaches — your surgeon and anesthetist will discuss which suits you.
Is some neck numbness or a voice change normal afterward?
A patch of numbness near the wound is common and usually improves over months. Small nerves near the artery can be bruised, occasionally causing a temporary hoarse voice or a change at the corner of the mouth. Mention any such changes so they can be reviewed — most settle.