STENTING - A NEW APPROACH TO CAROTID DISSECTION

A patient with bilaterally occluded internal carotid arteries had a ri ght hemispheric stroke followed by a left cerebral infarction, seconda ry to dissection from fibromuscular dysplasia, seen also in the verteb ral arteries. The occluded left carotid was reopened and stents placed , with apparent reestablishment of left hemispheric blood flow. The sp eech and other deficits resolved. Although its use is under investigat ion, percutaneous balloon angioplasty with stents may be an appropriat e intervention when other measures do not prevent progressive ischemic events.