Carotid artery stenting: analysis of data for 105 patients at high risk.
OBJECTIVE
Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been recommended as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by some clinicians. However, recently published clinical trials have reported 30-day stroke and death rates of 10% to 12%. This prompted review of our experience with CAS in patients at high risk, to document our results and guide further use of CAS.


METHODS
From September 1996 to the present, we performed 114 consecutive CAS procedures in 105 patients. Sixty-three patients were men (60%) and 42 patients were women (40%), with mean age of 70 years (range, 45-93 years). Indications for CAS included recurrent stenosis after previous CEA in 74 patients (65%), primary lesions in 32 patients at high risk (28%), and carotid stenosis with previous ipsilateral radiation therapy in 8 patients (7%). Asymptomatic stenosis (>80%) was managed in 70 patients (61%), and symptomatic lesions (>50%) were treated in 44 patients (39%).


RESULTS
CAS was technically successful in all patients. Mean severity of stenosis before CAS was 87% +/- 6%, compared with 9% +/- 4% after CAS. Two patients (1.9%) died, 1 of reperfusion-intracerebral hemorrhage and 1 of myocardial infarction 10 days after discharge; and 1 patient (0.95%) had a stroke (retinal infarction), for a 30-day stroke and death rate of 2.85%. Two patients (1.9%) had transient neurologic events. No cranial nerve deficits were noted. No neurologic complications have been noted in the last 27 patients (26%).


CONCLUSIONS
A 30-day stroke and death rate of 2.85% in our experience demonstrates acceptability of CAS as an alternative to repeat operation or primary CEA in patients at high risk or in patients with radiation-induced stenosis. We recommend further clinical investigation of CAS and participation in clinical trials by vascular surgeons.
Hobson
Robert W
RW
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, UMDNJ-NJMS, 30 Bergen St, ADMC Bldg 6, Rm 620, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. hobsonrw@umdnj.edu
Lal
Brajesh K
BK
Chakhtoura
Elie
E
Goldstein
Jonathan
J
Haser
Paul B
PB
Kubicka
Richard
R
Cerveira
Joaquim
J
Pappas
Peter J
PJ
Padberg
Frank T
FT
Jamil
Zafar
Z
Chaktoura
Ellie
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors