When to call your healthcare provider

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

• Problems at the incision site, such as swelling, redness, bleeding, warmth, leaking of fluids, or increasing pain

• The limb that was used for the puncture site is cold, changes color, painful, numb, tingling, or has loss of function

• Fever of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider

• Chest pain or trouble breathing (Call 911)

• New or worsening symptoms

Go to the emergency room if your healthcare provider’s office is closed.

Your follow-up

Within a month after the procedure, you’ll have a follow-up exam and tests. These tests may include an ultrasound and a brain function exam. Then you’ll be monitored with ultrasound or another imaging test every 6 months for 1 to 2 years. After that, you’ll be monitored at least every 12 months. You may also keep taking antiplatelet medicine. In some cases, the carotid artery can narrow again. If this happens, it can often be treated again with balloon angioplasty.

Call 911

Call 911 right away if you have any of the following symptoms of 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

• Trouble understanding others

• Sudden, severe headache

• Dizziness, loss of balance, or a sense of falling

• Blackouts or seizures

B.E. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the signs of stroke. When you see these signs, you know that you need to 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.