Early carotid artery stenting for the treatment of cerebral watershed infarction：a clinical analysis / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early carotid artery stenting in treating cerebral watershed infarction patients with carotid artery stenosis. Methods A total of 33 patients with acute cerebral watershed infarction complicated by carotid artery stenosis received carotid artery stenting within one week after the onset of the disease. The clinical safety and efficacy were evaluated. Results The carotid artery stenting was successfully accomplished in all 33 patients with a success rate of 100%. After the procedure, different degree of bradycardia and hypotension was seen in 23 patients, which restored to normal after prompt medication with atropine, dopamine, etc. During the procedure, one patients developed cerebral embolism due to dislodgment of emboli, resulting in contralateral hemiparalysis, and the contralateral limb muscle strength returned to preoperative status after proper treatment. After the treatment, no ipsilateral hemisphere excessive perfusion or cerebral hemorrhage occurred. Thirty days after the treatment, NHISS scores of the patients were obviously improved, which were significantly different from those determined before the treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion For the treatment of acute cerebral watershed infarction, early carotid artery stenting to relieve carotid artery stenosis is quite safe and it may improve the prognosis as well.