Poor durability of carotid angioplasty and stenting for treatment of recurrent artery stenosis after carotid endarterectomy: an institutional experience

PURPOSE: Recurrent stenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is often regarded as an optimal application of carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS). The extended durability of CAS for recurrent carotid artery stenosis after CEA is unknown. We present the intermediate-term surveillance results for all eight CAS procedures performed over a 28-month period at a single tertiary referral center. METHODS: Patients had recurrent carotid stenosis after CEA, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, of 80% to 99% stenosis on preprocedural carotid duplex scan examination. Uncovered, self-expanding metal stents, in conjunction with angioplasty, were used in all patients. Baseline and scheduled interval follow-up duplex ultrasound scan was used to assess intrastent restenosis. Further angiography was reserved for those patients obtaining additional intervention. RESULTS: One transient ischemic attack was observed 1 day after the procedure, and no cerebral infarcts occurred. All patients had angiographic resolution of the stenosis and postprocedural duplex scan studies without residual stenosis. Subsequent interval surveillance duplex scan examinations revealed significant (60%-79%) to critical (80%-99%) recurrent stenosis in six (75%) of eight patients, two of whom went on to further interventions. Of those with intrastent restenosis, four (75%) progressed to critical (80%-99%) stenosis. Mean follow-up was 20.2 months (range, 12-37 months). The two lesions that have not yet shown restenosis are those with the shortest follow-up interval, each at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the optimistic claims in other series, this limited series suggests that angioplasty with stenting for recurrent carotid artery occlusive disease after CEA, although relatively safe in the short term, has significant limitations in terms of durability of results.