title: Are carotid stent fractures clinically significant?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Late stent fatigue is a known complication after carotid artery stenting (CAS) for cervical carotid occlusive disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of carotid stent fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-center retrospective review of 253 carotid bifurcation lesions treated with CAS and mechanical embolic protection from April 2001 to December 2009 was performed. Stent integrity was analyzed by two independent observers using multiplanar cervical plain radiographs with fractures classified into the following types: type I = single strut fracture; type II = multiple strut fractures; type III = transverse fracture; and type IV = transverse fracture with dislocation. Mean follow-up was 32 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up imaging was completed on 106 self-expanding nitinol stents (26 closed-cell and 80 open-cell stents). Eight fractures (7.5%) were detected (type I n = 1, type II n = 6, and type III n = 1). Seven fractures were found in open-cell stents (Precise n = 3, ViVEXX n = 2, and Acculink n = 2), and 1 fracture was found in a closed-cell stent (Xact n = 1) (p = 0.67). Only a previous history of external beam neck irradiation was associated with fractures (p = 0.048). No associated clinical sequelae were observed among the patients with fractures, and only 1 patient had an associated significant restenosis (≥ 80%) requiring reintervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late stent fatigue after CAS is an uncommon event and rarely clinically relevant. Although cell design does not appear to influence the occurrence of fractures, lesion characteristics may be associated risk factors.
authors: Division of Vascular Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Garcia-Toca
authors: Heron E
authors: HE
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Naughton
authors: Aiofee
authors: A
authors: Keeling
authors: Sachin V
authors: SV
authors: Phade
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: Morasch
authors: Melina R
authors: MR
authors: Kibbe
authors: Mark K
authors: MK
authors: Eskandari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*