Carotid Artery Stenting for Stroke Prevention

An alternative to carotid endarterectomy is carotid artery stenting, which is less invasive and may be the best way to treat patients who are at high risk for stroke.

Many patients with clogged carotid arteries who are at high risk for stroke have had a prior heart attack, have emphysema, or have a low tolerance to anesthesia and thus are poor candidates for an endarterectomy, which is performed under general anesthesia and involves a two-inch incision in the neck. Carotid artery stenting, in contrast, takes only 20 minutes and patients are released from the hospital after an overnight stay. It is the latest technique to help open clogged carotid arteries and prevent blockages from recurring. Preliminary trial data show good results.

"It's our nation's number three killer and leading cause of severe, long-term disability,” said Dr. James Joye, director of the cardiac catheterization labs at El Camino Hospital (Mountain View, CA, USA). "We're on the verge of approval for a procedure that cuts risks in half.” El Camino Hospital is one of 16 sites that will serve as carotid artery stenting training centers once the procedure is approved.




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