[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of carotid arteries--early results].

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of carotid stenosis could be surgical: eversion endarterectomy, conventional endarterectomy and patch-plasty, resection with graft interposition and bypass procedure or, in the past few years, carotid artery angioplasty (PTA) with stent implantation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to present early results of carotid artery angioplasty and stenting, as well as to identify indications for this procedure.

METHOD

Twenty-three patients with stenosis of internal carotid artery were included in the prospective study which was performed in the period from July 2006 to July 2007. For PTA and stenting of the carotid artery we used Balloon dilatation catheter Ultra-soft SV and Carotid Wallstent Monorail. During the procedure, brain protection by embolic protection system Filter Wire EZ was essentialy performed. Descriptive statistical methods were performed to present and describe the patient characteristics, risk factors and results.

RESULTS

23 patients were examined. In four (17.39%) cases there was asymptomatic, while in 19 (82.61%) there was symptomatic haemodynamic significant stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Four of these 19 patients (17.39%) had late restenosis following carotid endarterectomy, four (17.39%) important respiratory failure, and 11 (47.83%) important heart disease. Patients were followed up for the first 30 postopertive days. In that period, there were no mortality and no needs for surgical conversions. In one case (4.35%), residual stenosis of 30% remained. Two patients (8.70%) had TIA and one (4.35%) had CVI.

CONCLUSION

Main indications for PTA and stenting of carotid arteries are: surgically inaccessible lesions (at or above C2; or subclavial); radiation-induced carotid stenosis; prior ispilateral radical neck dissection; prior carotid endarterectomy (restenosis), severe cardiac and pulmonary conditions. Limitations and contraindications to carotid angioplasty and stentning include: signficant peripheral occlusive diseases; unfavourable aortic arch anatomy; severe tortuosity of the common and internal carotid artery; severely calcified stenosis, lesions containing fresh thrombus; stenosis longer than 2 cm; critical (>99%) stenosis; associated carotid artery aneurysm; contrast-related issues and severe aortic valve stenosis.