What are the key factors in setting up a successful carotid stent program?
Carotid stenting will drastically alter the management of carotid bifurcation stenosis. Key factors to include when initiating a carotid stent program are discussed. Questions addressed include the following: Who has clinical responsibility for patients with carotid disease? What is the rationale for a carotid stent program? How does one initiate a carotid stent program? How does one deal with endovascular realities? Training, patient selection, quality improvement, and proctoring are also reviewed.
Schneider
Peter A
PA
Division of Vascular Therapy, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Honolulu, HI 96819, USA. Peter.Schneider@kp.org
Silva
Michael B
MB
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000193:education; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000628:therapy; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D015607:Stents