Follow-up of stented carotid arteries by Doppler ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE

Blood flow velocity (BFV) in the carotid artery is altered by stent placement. The significance of these alterations is unknown. In our experience, both standard BFV criteria for stenosis and customized criteria recommended by other authors have led to high rates of false-positive studies. We reviewed our experience with Doppler ultrasonography immediately after extracranial carotid artery stent placement to define criteria for restenosis by BFV.

METHODS

Complete carotid angiograms and BFV results were available for 114 patients treated between January 1998 and December 1999. Angiographic images obtained immediately after stent placement and at follow-up were measured for residual or recurrent stenosis by a blinded reviewer according to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial method. Results of BFV studies obtained within 1 week of stent placement were interpreted by using two standard criteria (A, peak in-stent systolic velocity greater than 125 cm/s; B, internal carotid artery-to-common carotid artery ratio greater than 3.0) and two customized criteria (C, peak in-stent velocity greater than 170 cm/s; D, internal carotid artery-to-common carotid artery ratio greater than 2.0). The results of follow-up angiography and the most recent Doppler study were compared for nine patients.

RESULTS

On the basis of an examination of Doppler studies obtained immediately after stent placement, 36 patients met Criterion A for stenosis according to measured BFV (corresponding mean angiographic stenosis, 14.73 +/- 18.45%), 3 patients met Criterion B (mean stenosis, 1.67 +/- 2.89%), 8 patients met Criterion C (mean stenosis, 12.61 +/- 13.18%), and 14 met Criterion D (mean stenosis, 7.98 +/- 21.74%). No patient with Doppler criteria for significant stenosis had more than 50% residual stenosis. Three of nine patients who underwent follow-up angiography had stenosis of 50% or more; of these three patients, two underwent second angioplasty procedures. The peak in-stent systolic velocity or internal carotid artery-to-common carotid artery BFV ratio for each of the three patients with restenosis, but not for the six other patients, had increased by more than 80% since the immediate post-stenting Doppler study.

CONCLUSION

Strict BFV criteria for restenosis after carotid artery stenting are less reliable than change in BFV over time. An immediate post-stenting Doppler study must be obtained to serve as a reference value for future follow-up evaluation.