What Are the Skills That Prepare Vascular Surgeons for Carotid Stenting?

Abstract

Although it has been clearly established that in certain groups of patients, such as in patients with symptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis and in selected asymptomatic patients with high-grade stenosis, carotid endarterectomy offers significant protection from stroke compared with medical therapy, the role of carotid stenting in this patients versus carotid endarterectomy is undergoing a rapid evolution. The definitive evidence awaits the results of ongoing prospective, randomized trials such as CREST and others, but it is clear that carotid stenting will increasingly occupy a significant role in the therapy of carotid bifurcation disease. In that context, vascular surgeons, traditionally the experts on the management of this condition, face the specter of other disciplines intervening in its treatment. In addition, if vascular surgeons do not acquire the skills and the expertise necessary to perform carotid stenting, it is self-evident that they run the risk of being spectators rather retaining the mantle of expert in the management of carotid bifurcation disease. As such, it is the duty of vascular surgeons to acquire the skills with which to retain their rightful place in its management and treatment. The purpose of this article is to describe the skills necessary to become competent in the endovascular management of carotid disease, offer some thoughts and strategy by which one can gain experience and develop an armamentarium of skills necessary to perform carotid stenting, and offer a comprehensive array of options of management and treatment to the patient with carotid disease.