Initial multicenter experience with a novel distal protection filter during carotid artery stent implantation.

Atheroembolization resulting in transient or permanent neurologic impairment is the most common complication of catheter-based percutaneous carotid artery intervention. Protection of the distal cerebral vasculature during carotid stent implantation may enhance procedural safety. Carotid stent implantation with distal cerebral protection using the FilterWire EX was performed in 35 consecutive patients undergoing 36 procedures at six centers. The FilterWire was delivered and deployed successfully in all 36 cases, and embolic material was retrieved from 74% of procedures. The 30-day rate of major adverse events (death, major or minor stroke) was 0%. Transient ipsilateral periprocedural neurologic ischemia developed in two patients (5.7%), both resolving within 30 min. Distal cerebral protection with the FilterWire during carotid stenting is feasible and safe, results in capture and extraction of atheroembolic debris in the majority of patients while affording uninterrupted cerebral perfusion, and in this initial multicenter experience was associated with a high rate of procedural success without major complications.     

Cervical carotid artery stent placement.

This article reviews the clinical application and early results of cervical carotid artery stent placement. Patient preparation, techniques in stent delivery and post care treatment performed at Pittsburgh Vascular Institute are discussed. Experiences of a multicentre study obtained from an international survey is revealed. A total of 3129 carotid stent procedures have been performed worldwide to date, with a technical success rate of 98.8%. Complications during placement or within a 30-day period of placement included 74 (2.4%) transient ischemic insults, 78 (2.49%) minor strokes, 43 (1.37%) major strokes and 30 (0.96%) procedure-related deaths. Restenosis rates at 6 months was 2.3%. Post-procedure neurologic sequelae occurred in 14 (0.79%) of cases. Carotid artery stent placement is growing as an alternative for endarterectomy, especially for patients with high surgical risk. The periprocedural risks for death and minor and major stroke are generally acceptable at this early stage of development.     

Transradial catheterization: a word of caution

The radial artery has been used as an access for transcatheter procedures as well as a source for arterial conduit during coronary bypass surgery. It has been reported that 5Eth 13% of radial arteries may be damaged during transradial catheterization. The damage can be irreversible, and may therefore prohibit the radial arteryOs subsequent utilization as a coronary conduit.     

Percutaneous carotid artery stenting: a strategy in evolution

BACKGROUND: Carotid stenting was initially proposed as an alternative to surgical endarterectomy for selected high-risk patients. More recently, patients of standard surgical risk are being considered for percutaneous treatment of their carotid disease. AIMS: To describe the clinical outcomes of an initial consecutive cohort of patients treated by carotid stenting at one institution. METHODS: Between December 1997 and July 2003, 111 patients underwent stenting of 118 carotid arteries. Peri-procedural and long-term outcome data were collected. RESULTS: Most patients (>70%) were high-risk candidates for endarterectomy. Stents were successfully placed in 117/118 carotid arteries (99.2%). Distal protection devices were used in 43/118 (36.4%). The peri-procedural rate of death or disabling stroke was 3/118 (2.5%). Death or any stroke occurred in 11/118 (9.3%). However, only 7/118 (5.9%) procedures resulted in death or any persistent stroke (neurological deficit >1 week post-procedure). No myocardial infarction occurred. Median length of post-procedure hospitalization was 1 day. Long-term follow up was possible for 101 patients (91.0%) over a mean period of 27.1 months. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival free of ipsilateral stroke 36 and 66 months after carotid stenting was 77.0 +/- 9.5% and 68.2 +/- 15.1%, respectively. The estimated survival free of any stroke or stent failure was 70.9 +/- 10.7% and 60.7 +/- 17.4%, respectively. The majority of late deaths (7/11) were due to cardiac disease. CONCLUSION: We conclude that stenting of carotid stenoses is feasible, with a high procedural success rate and low complication rate. Carotid stenting should be considered the procedure of choice for high-risk patients.     

Perforation complicating carotid artery stenting: the use of a covered stent.

Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting has emerged as an effective strategy for the treatment of significant carotid artery stenosis. Perforation during carotid artery stenting is a very rare potential complication of the procedure. We describe a case of carotid artery perforation that occurred during postdilation of the carotid artery stent. In our case this potentially serious complication was successfully treated with a covered stent-graft.     

Global experience in cervical carotid artery stent placement.

The purpose of this article is to review and update the current status of carotid artery stent placement in the world. Surveys to major interventional centers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia were initially completed in June 1997. Subsequent information from these 24 centers in addition to 12 new centers has been obtained to update the information. The survey asked the various questions regarding the patients enrolled, procedure techniques, and results of carotid stenting, including complications and restenosis. The total number of endovascular carotid stent procedures that have been performed worldwide to date included 5,210 procedures involving 4,757 patients. There was a technical success of 98.4% with 5,129 carotid arteries treated. Complications that occurred during the carotid stent placement or within a 30-day period following placement were recorded. Overall, there were 134 transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) for a rate of 2.82%. Based on the total patient population, there were 129 minor strokes with a rate of occurrence of 2.72%. The total number of major strokes was 71 for a rate of 1.49%. There were 41 deaths within a 30-day postprocedure period resulting in a mortality rate of 0.86%. The combined minor and major strokes and procedure-related death rate was 5.07%. Restenosis rates of carotid stenting have been 1.99% and 3.46% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The rate of neurologic events after stent placement has been 1.42% at 6-12-month follow-up. Endovascular stent treatment of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease is growing as an alternative for vascular surgery, especially for patients that are high risk for standard carotid endarterectomy. The periprocedure risks for major and minor strokes and death are generally acceptable at this early stage of development and have not changed significantly since the first survey results. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 50:160-167, 2000.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention for a right coronary artery stent occlusion using retrograde delivery of a sirolimus‐eluting stent via a septal perforator

In percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion (CTO), the retrograde approach is an advanced technique. To improve the long‐term patency rate, stent implantation is necessary for CTO, however, antegrade stent delivery to the lesion is contraindicated in cases where there is an anomalous origin or deviation of the coronary artery, or the edge of a previously implanted stent extends into the aorta. We report a successful case of retrograde stent implantation via a septal perforator in a patient with marked deviation of the RCA origin. In this case, antegrade stent implantation was difficult because antegrade catheter insertion carried a risk of crush deformation of an ostial stent. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mechanisms and predictors of carotid artery stent restenosis: a serial intravascular ultrasound study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms and predictors of carotid artery restenosis after carotid artery stenting (CAS) using serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging. BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenting is increasingly used to treat high-grade obstructive carotid disease, but our knowledge of carotid in-stent restenosis and remodeling remains limited. METHODS: Post-procedural and 6-month (median 6 months) follow-up quantitative carotid angiography and IVUS were performed after self-expanding stent deployment in 50 internal carotid arteries (ICA). The IVUS measurements at multiple designated sites included minimal luminal diameter, lumen area, stent area (SA), and neointimal hyperplasia area (NIH). RESULTS: Late stent enlargement at follow-up was found at all segments, and the percentage increase was greatest at the ICA lesion site (mean +/- SD, 48.9 +/- 35.3%). The NIH, expressed as a percentage of SA, was seen within all segments of the stent and was greatest at the ICA lesion site (37.3 +/- 23.3%). There was a strong positive correlation between the amount of NIH and late stent enlargement (r = 0.64; p < 0.001). Immediate post-procedural minimum ICA SA (r = -0.37; p < 0.01) and stent expansion (r = -0.44; p = 0.001) correlated negatively with the percentage restenotic area at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although self-expanding carotid stents generate considerable neointimal hyperplasia, the process is balanced by marked late stent enlargement. Small stent dimensions immediately post-procedure were associated with a higher risk of restenosis.     

Percutaneous thrombin injection for treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms: a case for caution

The case of a patient who developed a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm following cardiac catheterization is described. After 2 failed attempts of ultrasound-guided compression repair, the patient underwent percutaneous thrombin injection with, beside of complete closure of the pseudoaneurysm, a severe limb ischemia due to distal thrombin migration with consecutive clot formation finally resulting in thigh amputation of the affected leg. Indications, advantages, and disadvantages of various options for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms (vascular surgery, ultrasound-guided compression, percutaneous thrombin injection, and other nonsurgical treatment modalities), as well as risk factors for distal migration of liquid thrombin after percutaneous injection, are discussed in this report.