[Cerebral protection with balloon occlusion during carotid artery stent implantation--first experiences].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the technical feasibility and the results of cerebral protection with the GuardWire Plus Temporary Occlusion & Aspiration System during carotid artery stenting for high-grade stenosis.


METHODS
In 20 patients 20 carotid artery stenoses were treated with stent placement under cerebral protection. A contralateral carotid occlusion was an exclusion criteria for the use of the protection device. In all cases only aspiration, but no flushing was used before deflation of the occlusion balloon. In 17 of 20 patients diffusion-weighted (DW-)MRT imaging of the brain was performed before and 24 hours after the procedure.


RESULTS
The stent implantation was successfully performed in all patients. In 3 patients neurologic symptoms occurred during the occlusion time. In these 3 patients the symptoms immediately disappeared after deflation of the balloon. In one case there was dilatation of the internal carotid artery at the site of the balloon inflation. In 3 of the 17 DW-MR images new ipsilateral cerebral lesions, in one case a new contralateral lesion occurred after the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
The cerebral protection procedure is technically feasible. The occlusion of the internal carotid artery was not tolerated by all patients. The DW-MR imaging demonstrated cerebral lesions indicating the occurrence of cerebral microemboli during the procedure. Further investigations are necessary to determine if the use of the cerebral protection device will improve the results of the carotid artery stenting for high-grade stenoses.
Radiologische Klinik, Städtische Kliniken Dortmund Lehrstuhl für Radiologie und Mikro-Therapie der Universität Witten/Herdecke. horstjaeger@t-online.de
H J
HJ
Jäger
K D
KD
Mathias
R
R
Drescher
G
G
Bockisch
E
E
Hauth
E
E
Demirel
H M
HM
Gissler
D000368:Aged; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents