CLINICAL AND ULTRASONIC LONG-TERM RESULTS OF PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CAROTID ANGIOPLASTY - A PROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP OF 30 CAROTID ANGIOPLASTIES

Experience of the long-term outcome of patients treated with carotid b alloon angioplasty is limited. Therefore, we prospectively analyzed th e ultrasonic and clinical features of 29 patients with complete follow -up data beyond 24 months, evaluated from 1989 through 1996 from our c arotid angioplasty cohort of 106 patients. Mean follow-up time was 33 months. For up to 78 months postangioplasty, 23 patients with 34 angio plasties (77%) had no further neurological sequelae. Single ipsilatera l amaurosis fugax or TIA events occurred in 3 patients. Recurrent ipsi lateral amaurosis fugax or TIA events were noted twice in 2 patients, No patient suffered an ipsilateral stroke. Fifteen angioplasties (50%) remained with normal ultrasound (stenosis <50%), mild restenosis (50- 70%) occurred in 12 angioplasties (40%), and severe restenosis (>70%) in 3 angioplasties (10%). Only in 2 of 15 patients clinical complicati ons were related to the occurrence of ipsilateral restenosis above 50% , Until now, rigorous and careful evaluation of patients and clinical and ultrasonic follow-up have been essential for the estimation of the long-term efficacy of carotid angioplasty. It should be noted that ca rotid angioplasty is a new technique in evolution, with a high potenti al improving the technical results.