Elective stenting of extracranial carotid arteries.

OBJECTIVES: In symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with significant carotid artery stenosis, surgical endarterectomy has been shown to be beneficial when compared with medical management. Carotid stenting is evolving as an alternative technique for treating such patients. This prospective study was designed to assess the feasibility and safety of carotid angioplasty and stenting. METHODS: Fourteen patients (15 carotid arteries) with significant carotid artery stenosis were enrolled. These patients were in the age range 46 to 84 years (mean 60.9 +/- 7 years) and there were 12 males (86%). All of these patients were symptomatic with either TIA (n = 8) or stroke (n = 6). Wallstents were used in all the cases to stent the carotid arteries. One patient underwent bilateral carotid artery stenting. RESULTS: Carotid angioplasty and stenting was successful in 13 out of 14 (92.8%) patients and 14 out of 15 (93.3%) carotid arteries, with reduction in mean (+/- SD) stenosis from 86 +/- 6% to 3 +/- 3%. There was one episode of minor stroke, no major stroke or death during the initial hospitalization. Another patient had a minor stroke with patent ipsilateral carotid artery (on repeat angiography) during the first 30 days after the procedure. This patient was also found to have asymptomatic thrombus formation in the contralateral carotid stent which resolved with intravenous anticoagulation. During a mean follow up of 6 +/- 2 months there has been no recurrence of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon our limited experience we believe that percutaneous carotid angioplasty with stenting is feasible with low periprocedural complication rate.