Carotid Stent-Supported Angioplasty: A Neurovascular Intervention to Prevent Stroke

Obstructive carotid artery disease is responsible for 60% of strokes in the United States and is the third major cause of death. Stent-supported carotid artery angioplasty has the potential to prevent stroke in thousands of patients and offers a number of potential advantages over surgical revascularization (carotid endarterectomy). Results of the prospective observational study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham indicate that carotid stent-supported angioplasty is safe and probably effective in reducing stroke in patients with high-risk cerebrovascular disease. Technical success was achieved in 99% of 146 procedures; 210 stents were placed in 152 vessels, with only 1 instance of stent thrombosis. The rate of major in-hospital complications was unexpectedly low—only 1 death and 2 major strokes. Seven patients suffered minor strokes, but only 2 were left with minor weakness. When compared with a projected complication rate of 6% had these patients undergone carotid endarterectomy, stenting resulted in fewer major events. At 6-month follow-up, 69 of 74 patients were evaluated by angiography or ultrasound, which detected 8 cases of stent deformation and a restenosis rate of