ANGIOPLASTY OF THE INTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY - RESULTS, COMPLICATIONS AND FOLLOW-UP IN 61 CASES

Citation
B. Eckert et al., ANGIOPLASTY OF THE INTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY - RESULTS, COMPLICATIONS AND FOLLOW-UP IN 61 CASES, Cerebrovascular diseases, 6(2), 1996, pp. 97-105
Citations number
46
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiac & Cardiovascular System","Clinical Neurology","Peripheal Vascular Diseas
Journal title
ISSN journal
10159770
Volume
6
Issue
2
Year of publication
1996
Pages
97 - 105
Database
ISI
SICI code
1015-9770(1996)6:2<97:AOTIC->2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
A total of 61 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTAs) have been performed in 58 patients with symptomatic severe stenosis of the inte rnal carotid artery in our department since 1990. Forty-nine PTAs were successful (residual stenosis 0-49%). In 5 cases, residual stenosis r anged between 50 and 70%. Seven PTAs failed due to technical reasons. Transient ischemic neurological symptoms occurred in 8 patients. Minor stroke occurred in 2 patients with small hemodynamic infarcts, as rev ealed by control CT scans. Disabling stroke occurred in 1 patient. The overall neurological complication rate was 18%; the severe complicati on rate was 1.6%; mortality was 0%. Out of the 53 patients surveyed du ring the follow-up period (range, 3-48 months; mean, 16 months), there was 1 ipsilateral clinical relapse in a patient with restenosis. Thre e patients died, 2 of cardiac causes. One patient who refused surgery died of fulminant stroke 3 months after failed PTA. Ultrasonic follow- up in 47 patients (3-48 months; mean, 14 months) revealed asymptomatic restenosis in 2 patients, resulting in a total of 3 cases of restenos is. Carotid PTA seems to be a reasonable alternative to carotid endart erectomy; however, in comparison to carotid surgery, clinical efficacy has yet to be verified by means of randomized clinical trials.