Elective carotid artery stenting with distal embolic protection

Objective: It is aimed to present our experience in carotid artery stenting with attention to the patient selection, technique, success rate, perioperative complications, and efficacy. Methods: Patients presented with carotid stenosis treated by stenting were included. Symptomatic patients were defined as having a history of transient ischemic attack or stroke in the last 6 months. Patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis of at least 50% or asymptomatic carotid stenosis of at least 70% detected by catheter angiography were accepted for treatment. Distal embolic protection devices were used in all patients. Technical success was defined as the luminal patency at least 70%. Results: The study consisted of 94 patients with 98 procedures and the mean age was 66.38 +/- 11.13 years. The mean stenosis rate was 74.52 +/- 13.44%. A total of 109 stents were used in 97 procedures, and closed-cell design was used in 87.2% versus open-cell design in 12.8%. Technical success and complication rate were 98.9% and 8.2%, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 14.92 +/- 10.76 months. Conclusion: Carotid artery stenting with use of distal embolic protection devices is widely accepted, safe, feasible, less invasive when compared to surgery and can be performed successfully especially in patients with high risk factors.