Review of stents for the carotid artery.

The individual characteristics of a stent may make it an attractive choice in some circumstances, but render it a less desirable option in others. The applicability depends primarily on the arterial anatomy and the specific details of the lesion being treated. A careful assessment by the interventionalist is required to select the proper type of stent that is of appropriate size. Certainly, personal preferences and familiarity with a specific device may legitimately influence the decision to choose one stent over another. Finally, stent design can play a role in the selection procedure. Although carotid stents are often functionally equivalent in the clinical setting and have been used successfully to treat a wide variety of lesions, a basic knowledge of stent geometry can contribute to make up your mind in certain carotid cases.