Adjunctive medical therapy during supraaortic PTA

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in conjunction with stent implantatio n (PTAS) is the treatment of choice in several indications. Despite its fre quent use in supraaortic arterial disease and the scientific effort to esta blish PTAS of the internal carotid artery there is relatively little data i n the literature to provide an evidence-based ground for periinterventional medical therapy. This article reviews the current periprocedural protocols and gives an overview of the hemodynamic management as necessary in caroti d PTAS. Furthermore, problems of antithrombotic therapy with heparin and pl atelet inhibitors are discussed and a short introduction into medical cereb roprotection and thrombolytic therapy in ischemic cerebrovascular events is given.