Complications following carotid angioplasty and carotid stenting in patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease.
BACKGROUND
We review a single centre's experience of the endovascular treatment of carotid artery disease, present the 30-day and 1-year complication rates and assess whether changes in technique are associated with a change in clinical outcome.


METHODS
Patients who underwent carotid angioplasty with or without stenting for symptomatic > or = 70% carotid artery stenosis secondary to atherosclerosis were included. 333 procedures were performed, i.e. angioplasty alone (86), stent without cerebral protection (150) and stent with cerebral protection (97).


RESULTS
At 30 days, the total major disabling stroke and all death rate was 3.0%. For angioplasty alone, this was 2.3%, for stent without cerebral protection 4.0% and for stent with cerebral protection 2.1%. If non-stroke-related deaths were excluded, it was 2.3, 3.3 and 0%, respectively. After 30 days, the 1-year ipsilateral stroke rate was 0.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
Carotid artery stenting, in particular with a cerebral protection device, is a safe alternative to carotid endarterectomy for the treatment of symptomatic high-grade carotid artery disease.
McKevitt
F M
FM
Neurology Department, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. fionamckevitt@hotmail.com
Macdonald
S
S
Venables
G S
GS
Cleveland
T J
TJ
Gaines
P A
PA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome