Elective stenting of the extracranial carotid arteries

Surgical endarterectomy has been shown to be superior to medical management in the management of severe carotid stenosis in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Endarterectomy, although effective, does have limitations, and percutaneous techniques may offer an alternative method of treatment. The feasibility and safety of percutaneous carotid angioplasty and elective (primary) stenting was evaluated prospectively in a consecutive series of 107 patients. One hundred twenty-six carotid arteries with significant stenosis were treated. This series represented a high-risk subset that included patients with previous ipsilateral endarterectomy and severe medical comorbidity. Forty-five percent of the patients were referred by surgeons. Patients had independent neurological examinations before and after the procedure and follow-up cerebral angiography at 6 months. The mean (+/- SD) stenosis was reduced from 78 +/- 14% to 2 +/- 5%. There were 7 minor strokes, 2 major strokes, and 1 death during the initial hospitalization and first 30 days after the procedure. For the combined end point of all strokes and death, the incidence was 7.9%. For ipsilateral major stroke and death, the incidence was 1.6%. There were no strokes during the follow-up period. Mean angiographic stenosis at 6 months in 81 patients was 18 +/- 16% (range, -21% to 57%). Four (4.9%) of these 81 patients had asymptomatic restenosis. Five asymptomatic patients had repeat intervention: 2 had angioplasty for restenosis, 2 had angioplasty for stent deformation, and 1 had endarterectomy for restenosis. In a high-risk group of patients, percutaneous carotid angioplasty and stenting are feasible and can be performed with low restenosis and repeat intervention rates.