Carotid Artery Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty and Stenting: Indications, Technical Approach, and Complications

Carotid percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting are relatively new tools in the field of vascular therapeutics. They are products of the evolution of the techniques used in the therapy of coronary and peripheral vascular disease. Carotid endarterectomy is still the "criterion standard" to which all other carotid interventions are compared. This status has been achieved on the basis of extensive studies on symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. For carotid percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting to become a proven alternative for the therapy of carotid disease, their precise use and role still need to be defined by randomized prospective trials. If performed by experienced operators with meticulous technique, the risk of complications is very low. Outpatient-based 1-day hospitalization, well tolerated, and avoiding anesthesia related complications make their future in the therapy of carotid disease very optimistic.