CURRENT GLOBAL STATUS OF CAROTID-ARTERY STENT PLACEMENT

Our purpose was to review the current status of carotid artery stent p lacement throughout the world. Surveys were sent to major intervention al centers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Information f rom peer-reviewed journals was also included and supplemented the surv ey. The survey asked various questions regarding the patients enrolled , procedure techniques, and results of carotid stenting, including com plications and restenosis. Of the centers which were sent surveys, 24 responded. The total number of endovascular carotid stent procedures t hat have been performed worldwide to date included 2,048 cases, with a technical success of 98.6%. Complications that occurred during caroti d stent placement or within a 30-day period following placement were r ecorded. Overall, there were 63 minor strokes, with a rate of occurren ce of 3.08%. The total number of major strokes was 27, for a rate of 1 .32%. There were 28 deaths within a 30-day postprocedure period, resul ting in a mortality rate of 1.37%. Restenosis rates of carotid stentin g have been 4.80% at 6 mo. Endovascular stent treatment of carotid art ery atherosclerotic disease is growing as an alternative to vascular s urgery, especially for patients that are at high risk for standard car otid endarterectomy. The periprocedural risks for major and minor stro kes and death are generally acceptable at this early stage of developm ent. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.