title: The early and mid-term results of carotid artery stenting in high-risk patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate early and mid-term outcomes of carotid artery stenting (CAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 111 patients who were treated for carotid stenosis between October 2004 and December 2009 (42 CASs and 69 carotid endarterectomies [CEAs]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAS group was older than CEA group (70 years vs. 67 years, P = 0.001). Coronary artery disease and high lesion above the 2nd cervical vertebral body were more common in CAS group (29% vs. 13%, P = 0.002; 4% vs. 24%, P = 0.004). The 30-days stroke rate was higher in CAS group (10% vs. 1% in CEA group, P = 0.067, Fisher's exact test). New brain lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were more common in CAS group (48% vs. 20% in CEA group, P = 0.002, chi-square test). The 1-, 3-year freedom from stroke were 91%, 84% in CAS group and 99%, 99% in CEA group (P = 0.007, log-rank test). Univariate analysis showed that female gender and age > 70 years were related with postprocedural neurological complications (P = 0.046 and P = 0.007, log-rank test). However, none were independent risk factors on multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our series, the rates of peri-procedural neurological complications in CAS group were significantly high. These results suggest that more experience and restricted patient selection will be needed for CAS.
authors: Department of Surgery, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Woo-Sung
authors: WS
authors: Yun
authors: Woo-Hyung
authors: WH
authors: Kwun
authors: Bo-Yang
authors: BY
authors: Suh