Safety and efficacy of carotid stenting in individuals with concomitant severe carotid and aortic stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
Carotid artery stenting (CAS) prior to open-heart surgery may be a useful approach to minimise the risk of neurologic events in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR).


RESULTS
All patients referred for carotid intervention at our institution between 1998 and 2005 with concomitant severe aortic stenosis (AS) (aortic valve area <1.0 cm2) were included. Data were obtained prospectively and confirmed by chart review. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 30-days after CAS or AVR. Secondary endpoints included incidence of stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and myocardial infarction (MI) at 30-days after CAS or AVR. Patients were followed-up at 30-days, six months, and annually thereafter. Of the 829 patients who underwent CAS, 52 had severe AS. Carotid stenting in 28 (54%) of the patients was attempted using embolic protection devices. Three patients (6%) died <30 days after carotid stenting, and two (4%) died >30 days after carotid stenting but prior to aortic valve replacement. At one year after CAS, a total of nine patients had died. There were a total of 19 deaths (37%) over a median follow-up of 3.8 years. One patient (2%) suffered a TIA during carotid stenting; at 30-days and 1-year there were no strokes in the CAS group. There were no MI's. AVR was performed in 29 patients (56%), and at 30-days and 1-year there were no strokes or deaths noted in those patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with severe AS, CAS can be accomplished effectively and with a low rate of stroke, MI, and death.
Kar
Subrata
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA.
Krishnaswamy
Amar
A
Shishehbor
Mehdi H
MH
Cam
Akin
A
Tuzcu
E Murat
EM
Bhatt
Deepak L
DL
Bajzer
Christopher
C
Kapadia
Samir R
SR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects