Retrospective study on early outcomes of carotid stenting

Abstract

Objective: This study is conducted to evaluate the early events after Carotid artery stenting (CAS) among our patients in a single institute. Methods: This study was conducted on 40 patients. These patients underwent stenting of extracranial carotid arteries. Stenting was performed on symptomatic patients with carotid artery stenosis of more than 50 per cent of asymptomatic patients with more than 70 per cent carotid artery stenosis on Doppler ultrasonography. Follow up period for this study was of one month. Results: 40 patients who underwent CAS between August 2018 and June 2019 were included in the study. Self-expandable hybrid stents were implanted in all patients and pre or poststent-dilatation was performed if required after implantation. None of the patients suffered from a stroke, myocardial infarction or death due to CAS during their hospital stay. Only one patient had a minor stroke during follow up, which was managed conservatively. No transient ischemic attack (TIA), myocardial infarction or death during the follow-up period. Re-stenosis was not observed in the follow-up carotid Doppler ultrasonography; flow rates were within normal limits. Conclusions: Carotid stenting is a safe alternative to CEA (carotid endarterectomy) in the treatment of carotid stenosis regardless of age. CAS with cerebral protection can be performed safely in patients who are at high surgical risk, with low perioperative morbidity and mortality. The durability of the procedure must be determined with a longer follow-up. Further high-quality RCTs are required to address other shortcomings and controversies.