Carotid Artery Plaque Rupture and Stroke: A Case Report and Intervention

This report describes a patient who presented with a ruptured vulnerable plaque in their right carotid artery. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound revealed the plaque rupture and ulceration, along with a free-floating thrombus and moderate stenosis at the origin of the right internal carotid artery. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) confirmed these findings. Additionally, the patient's MRI showed an acute lacunar infarction in the right caput nuclei caudate, establishing a link between the cerebrovascular event and the plaque rupture and thrombus formation. To address this, a neurologist performed a stent placement and balloon angioplasty after deploying a protective umbrella in the distal end of the patient's FFT in the carotid artery. Following the procedure, the patient did not experience any new neurological symptoms and was discharged upon improvement of their condition.