Percutaneous carotid artery stenting combined with stenting/angioplasty ofother central arteries

Background and objective: Although the value of interventional treatment of arterial stenosis has not been confirmed for all sites by randomized studi es, these methods are used more and more, often for several arteries simult aneously. This study reports results of percutaneous carotid artery stentin g combined with simultaneous interventions in other central arteries. Patients and methods: Among 90 patients who had undergone percutaneous caro tid artery stenting, 13 had simultaneous intervention in other arteries: co ntralateral carotid artery (n = 4), ipsilateral common carotid artery near its aortic origin (n = 1), left subclavian artery (n = 1), coronary artery (n = 6) and one of both carotid arteries and a coronary artery. Results: Primary success (restenosis < 30%) was achieved in all cases. Addi tional carotid artery stenting was done in 18. Stents were also implanted i n eight coronary arteries, angioplasty without stenting in two. Mean stenos is of the carotid arteries was reduced from 85 +/- 10% to 3 +/- 6%, that of the coronary arteries from 90 +/- 10% to 9 +/- 10%. Serious complications, a major stroke, occurred in one of the 13 patients (7.7%). Minor complicat ions were seen in two patients: transitory ischaemic attack in one, small m yocardial infarction in the other. Conclusion: Cartotid artery stenting combined with simultaneous interventio n in other central arteries can be done with a high rate of success and rel atively few complications. This form of treatment should be considered in s elected patients.