title: Techniques in cerebral protection.
abstract: Carotid angioplasty and stenting is a valid alternative option to conventional carotid endarterectomy in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. During the stenting process, however, distal embolization can occur with neurological consequences. To avoid this, cerebral protection devices have been introduced. Three principal types of protection system have been developed: distal balloon occlusion, distal filters and proximal protection with or without reversal of flow. As protection devices became the focus of interest by manufactures and physicians, several trials are going on worldwide to analyze the characteristics of each of them and to evaluate their efficacy to reduce the rate of distal embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, 324-Viale Regina Elena, Rome, Italy. fabrizio.fanelli@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bezzi
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boatta
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passariello
mesh_terms: D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D016896:Treatment Outcome