Complications following carotid angioplasty and carotid stenting in patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease.

BACKGROUND

We review a single centre's experience of the endovascular treatment of carotid artery disease, present the 30-day and 1-year complication rates and assess whether changes in technique are associated with a change in clinical outcome.

METHODS

Patients who underwent carotid angioplasty with or without stenting for symptomatic > or = 70% carotid artery stenosis secondary to atherosclerosis were included. 333 procedures were performed, i.e. angioplasty alone (86), stent without cerebral protection (150) and stent with cerebral protection (97).

RESULTS

At 30 days, the total major disabling stroke and all death rate was 3.0%. For angioplasty alone, this was 2.3%, for stent without cerebral protection 4.0% and for stent with cerebral protection 2.1%. If non-stroke-related deaths were excluded, it was 2.3, 3.3 and 0%, respectively. After 30 days, the 1-year ipsilateral stroke rate was 0.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Carotid artery stenting, in particular with a cerebral protection device, is a safe alternative to carotid endarterectomy for the treatment of symptomatic high-grade carotid artery disease.