ABSTRACT

In our study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of carotid artery stenting(CAS) in high surgical risk patients. 22 consecutive patients who underwent carotid artery stenting(CAS) between March 2009 and December 2011 were eligible. Only symptomatic stenosis were studied in high surgical risk patients as defined by the SAPPHIRE(Stenting and Angioplasty with Protection in Patients at High-Risk for Endarterectomy) trial. The mean age was 77.8 (range 67-87). Of the study group, 17 male(77.27%) and 5 female(22, 72%). Procedural success was achieved in 21 patients(95.4%). The mean stenosis in patients was 90.68 ±5.4%. Reasons for stenting included cardiac/pulmonary risk(63%), contralateral carotid artery occlusion( 72%), age older than 75(72%). None of the patients suffered from major stroke, MI or death due to CAS during their hospital stay. The overall rate of in-hospital adverse events (TIA, permanent bradycardia, hypotension) was 18.1 %(4 of 21). Bradycardia in 2(9.5%), hypotension in one(4.7%) and transient ischemic attack in one(4.7%) were observed during procedures. Our results support the use of CAS in high surgical risk patients with significant symptomatic carotid artery disease.

Keywords: Carotid artery stenting, stroke, symptomatic carotid stenosis, complications