title: Safety and efficacy assessment of carotid artery stenting in a high-risk population in a single-centre registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischaemic stroke is the primary cause of long-term disability and the third most common cause of death. Internal carotid artery stenosis is an important risk factor for stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines allow carotid artery stenting (CAS) as an alternative to endarterectomy in centres with low rates of death or stroke.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of CAS in a single-centre observation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients treated with CAS between March 2008 and July 2012. Clinical data and outcomes in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 214 consecutive patients were included in the registry. Symptomatic patients accounted for 57% of the study group and were more likely to have a history of stroke and/or TIA that occurred more than 6 months before the procedure (50% vs. 8%, p < 0.001). Asymptomatic patients were more likely to have a history of coronary artery disease (88% vs. 61%, p < 0.001), and the rates of previous acute coronary syndrome and revascularisation were also higher in this group (58% vs. 41% and 71% vs. 52%, respectively, both p < 0.05). The symptomatic group had higher incidence of stroke in periprocedural and 30-day observation (4% vs. 0%, p < 0.05). There was no difference in incidence of adverse events in long-term observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carotid artery stenting is a safe and efficacious procedure. Every centre performing CAS should monitor the rate of periprocedural complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zimoch
authors.affiliation: Students' Scientific Group of Interventional Cardiology, Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gwizdek
authors.affiliation: Students' Scientific Group of Interventional Cardiology, Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Konieczny
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kübler
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Telichowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jankowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reczuch
keywords: carotid artery stenting; peripheral artery disease