Yaz stroke occurs when arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain become clogged by wandering blood clots. The area of your brain that is supplied by the clogged artery is starved of blood, oxygen, and nutrients. As a result, the nerve cells begin to die and your brain becomes unable to function properly. Depending on which arteries are blocked, you might experience vertigo, partial blindness or vision problems, paralysis, and speech-related issues. This is known as ischemic stroke. Because brain cells are not regenerated, the damage is often permanent. In some cases, it can be fatal.
The wandering blood clots that trigger ischemic stroke can arrive from a deep vein within your leg. This is a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a dangerous side effect of using Yaz oral contraceptives.
Doctors normally prefer to treat stroke by using a non-surgical approach. However, if the arterial blockage is significant, and the risk of suffering a future stroke is high, a surgeon may perform carotid endarterectomy. Below, I'll describe the advantages and risks involved with the surgery.
The Immediate Medical Response
The first priority in treating stroke caused by Yaz is to regulate the victim's blood pressure, breathing, and pulse. Thrombolytic medications, such as tissue plasminogen activators (tPAs), may be given if the clot is large. However, because tPAs can cause bleeding in the brain, doctors often avoid using them, especially if bleeding is already present. Antiplatelet medications and anticoagulants, such as heparin and warfarin, are also administered.
Once these measures have been taken to manage the stroke, a surgeon will decide whether carotid endarterectomy is appropriate.
Treating Yaz Stroke With Carotid Endarterectomy
The purpose of carotid endarterectomy is to remove blood clots that are lodged within the internal carotid arteries. By removing the clots, a surgeon can improve the flow of blood to the portion of the brain that has been starved. Doing so not only restores blood flow, but it also reduces the likelihood that the patient will suffer ischemic stroke in the future (at least, through that particular carotid artery).
It is worth noting that carotid endarterectomy does not "revive" the dead brain cells. To that end, removing the blood clots cannot bring back any lost function.
The patient will receive an anesthetic and will normally remain awake during the procedure. That allows the surgeon to monitor the brain's activity given the reduced blood flow. An incision is made into the patient's neck near the site of the blood clot. An additional incision is made into the wall of the clogged artery. After the clot has been removed, the surgeon closes the opening.
The procedure can usually be completed within two hours. The patient will need to stay in the hospital for one or two days, and can return to their normal activities within a few weeks.
The risk of performing carotid endarterectomy is that the surgeon may unintentionally dislodge other clots within the blood vessel. Those clots can migrate and potentially form another blockage within the artery. If the blockage is large enough, it will trigger another ischemic stroke. This is the reason surgeons are wary of performing the operation. They will usually do so only if the blockage has narrowed the artery by more than 50%, and the patient can be expected to live at least another five years.
One of the dangerous side effects of using Yaz birth control pills is DVT. If a blood clot in a deep vein breaks away and travels to one of your internal carotid arteries, it can trigger ischemic stroke. If you have suffered abnormal clotting, DVT, or stroke after taking this oral contraceptive, you may have important legal rights.
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