Percutaneous transluminal stenting in patients with carotid artery stenosis

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal st enting for patients with carotid artery stenosis. Methods Selective percutaneous transluminal stenting was performed for pati ents with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis ( luminal narrowing greater t han or equal to 70%). Success rates and complications associated with the p rocedures were observed. During six months of follow-up, both recurrent sym ptom and restenosis rates were recorded. Results There were 17 bifurcating lesions among 27 stenoses in 26 patients, of whom 18 had concomitant coronary artery diseases. The acute procedural success rate was 96.3% (26/27), and the degree of stenosis was reduced from 88.6% +/- 8.9% (range 70 - 100) to 0.4% +/- 2.0% (range 0-10). Six patient s developed severe bradycardia and hypotension, and 3 experienced transient loss of consciousness during balloon dilatation. During hospitalization, 2 patients experienced loss of consciousness and convulsion, respectively, d ue to hyperperfusion, and both recovered 12 hours later. There were 2 minor stroke cases (7.4%) but no cases of major stroke or death. At the 6-month follow-up, there were no cases of TIA or new onset of stroke. There was no restenosis detected in 16 Gases using angiography and in 10 Gases using MRI in 6 to 16 months of follow-up. Conclusions Percutaneous transluminal stenting for patients with carotid ar tery stenosis has a high procedural success rate with few and acceptable co mplications. Few patients suffered from recurrent symptoms or showed resten osis in long-term follow-up.