title: Percutaneous interventions in patients with acute ischemic stroke related to obstructive atherosclerotic disease or dissection of the extracranial carotid artery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients with acute stroke who underwent angioplasty of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were eligible for CAS if they presented within 6 hours of symptom onset and had a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score >4. The records of all 18 acute stroke patients (11 men; mean age 68.3+/-14.3 years) who underwent endovascular intervention in the stroke-related extracranial ICA between May 2003 and February 2006 were reviewed. Fourteen (77.8%) had atheromatous obstructions and 4 (22.2%) had dissection of the extracranial ICA. Major adverse cerebral and cardiac events (MACCEs) and neurological status, including NIHSS and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, were recorded for all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful revascularization was achieved in 83.3% (15/18) of the patients. Cerebral protection devices were applied successfully in 13 (72.2%). At discharge, a neurological improvement (NIHSS reduction > or =4) was observed in 77.8% (14/18) of patients. The clinical success rate was 72.2% (13/18). The median NIHSS was 8.5 on admission versus 4.5 at discharge (p<0.01). The 30-day death and stroke rate was 11.1%. During the 14.6+/-9.3-month follow-up, the MACCE and the death/stroke rates were 33.3% and 27.8%, respectively. The median mRS scores at 30 days and at midterm follow-up were 1 and 2.5, respectively (p = NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular revascularization of the extracranial ICA in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with high procedural success rates and favorable midterm outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mirano General Hospital, Mirano, Italy.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikas
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reimers
authors.forename: Menegazzo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elisabetta
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saccá
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cernetti
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasquetto
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Favero
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fattorello
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pascotto
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome