Current status of carotid stenting

Abstract

Carotid stenting has significantly evolved over the last decade as techniques and equipment have continued to improve. Several phases of waxing and waning enthusiasm have occurred that have started to settle in favour of carotid stenting in select patients. Carotid stenting is being performed more frequently in community hospitals with reasonable results, as seen in multiple registries. The most recent randomised trials that have compared carotid stenting versus carotid endarterectomy have shed considerable light on the safety and efficacy of stenting, but also have created controversy over the methods and design of many of these trials. The results of the most recent trial, Carotid revascularization endarterectomy versus stenting (CREST) and other registry studies have lifted considerable fog from the scene and confirmed the safety and efficacy of stenting. We are optimistic that future trials will involve better methods and equipment and will help to establish carotid stenting as a standard therapy for carotid artery stenosis. © Touch Briefings 2011.