Endovascular stenting for carotid artery stenosis: preliminary experience using the shape-memory- alloy-recoverable-technology (SMART) stent.
We describe our initial clinical experience using the newly available self-expanding, Nitinol, shape-memory-, alloy-recoverable-technology (SMART) stent in treating carotid artery occlusive disease. Five stents were used in four carotid arteries in four consecutive patients with carotid stenosis of at least 70%. Technical success (<20% residual stenosis) was achieved in all cases. No procedural complications specifically related to use of the SMART stent were encountered. All patients remained symptom-free, with no evidence of transient ischemic attacks or new strokes during an average follow-up period of 6 months. Excellent performance of the SMART stent for the endovascular treatment of carotid artery stenosis has been shown based on our early experience. Validation with greater numbers and longer-term follow-up is required. The specific technical characteristics, potential advantages, and disadvantages of this stent are discussed and compared with other currently used carotid artery stents.
Phatouros
C C
CC
Division of Interventional Neurovascular Radiology, University of California San Francisco Medical Center, 94143, USA.
Higashida
R T
RT
Malek
A M
AM
Meyers
P M
PM
Lempert
T E
TE
Dowd
C F
CF
Halbach
V V
VV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000497:Alloys; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol