Carotid Guiding Sheath Challenges Difficult Carotid Anatomy

A new carotid guiding sheath is designed specifically to provide easier and faster access of the various instruments needed to open blockages in the carotid arteries.

The Strada Carotid Guiding Sheath is intended to serve as a conduit for delivering catheters, stents, and other artery-opening tools in minimally invasive interventional treatments that use balloon angioplasty and stenting to clear blockages and restore blood flow in the carotid arteries. The sheath is inserted into an artery in the upper thigh or the arm, and is guided through the arteries to the area of the blockage in the neck. The sheath is engineered with five distinct transition zones, which provide flexibility on the distal end of the sheath, and add support on the proximal end of the sheath. The sheath's construction provides excellent kink resistance for added confidence in navigating challenging anatomy. The Strada Carotid Guiding Sheath, a product of St. Jude Medical (St. Paul, MN, USA), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is available in 80- and 90-cm working lengths.

‘Physicians consistently comment that gaining access through difficult anatomy is the hardest and most time-consuming part of carotid interventional procedures,” said Frank Callaghan, president of the St. Jude Medical cardiovascular division. "The Strada Carotid Guiding Sheath is designed specifically to give physicians easier and faster access to blocked regions of the artery. Patients may benefit from reduced procedure times.”

The carotid arteries are vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain, face, and scalp. In carotid artery disease, a build-up of plaque on the inner walls of the arteries can reduce or restrict blood flow to the brain. Depending on the degree of stenosis and the patient's overall condition, carotid artery stenosis can usually be treated with surgery. The procedure is called carotid endarterectomy, which has proven to benefit patients with arteries narrowed by 70% or more. For people with arteries narrowed less than 50%, antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants can be prescribed. Carotid angioplasty may be another treatment option.


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