Safety and efficacy of carotid artery stenting.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of carotid artery stenting (CAS).


METHODS
We prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of 76 carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedures in a consecutive series of 70 Chinese patients. This series represented a high-risk group that included patients with unstable angina, previous ipsilateral CEA, contralateral carotid artery occlusion, post-radiation carotid artery stenosis and other severe co-morbid conditions. The patients had independent neurological examinations before and after the procedure and follow-up cerebral angiography at 6 month.


RESULTS
The procedural success rate was 100%. The mean carotid artery stenosis was (82+/-18) % before and (5+/-10) % after the procedure. During the initial hospital period and 30 days after CAS, there was no major stroke but 3 minor strokes (5.7%). No myocardial infarctions or deaths occurred during or within 30 days following CAS. At a mean follow-up of 20+/-12 months, 2 patients (2.8%) had asymptomatic restenosis, and 2 non-Q wave myocardial infarction. Death occurred in 2 cases, but none of them was attributed to a neurological cause. Three patients had minor strokes and no major strokes occurred during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous carotid artery stenting is feasible for performance in Chinese patients and may lower the restenosis rate.
Wang
Yi-qing
YQ
Heart Center, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Xiamen University, Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Xiamen 361004, China. wang_qina@163.com
Saiwah
David Ho
DH
Wang
Yan
Y
Zheng
Jian-tao
JT
Jiang
Hong-fei
HF
Chen
Bing-huang
BH
D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents