"Protected" wallstenting of atheromatous stenoses at the carotid bifurcation.

SUMMARY: Atheromatous stenoses at the carotid bifurcation were treated by angioplasty and Wallstenting with cerebral protection obtained in most cases by temporary occlusion of the internal carotid artery. 287 carotid stenoses were treated in 233 patients. The stenosis was symptomatic in 79% of cases. All patients presented either a stenosis of >70% with significant impairment of the cerebral circulation (281 cases) or a symptomatic ulcerated plaque (six cases). A self-mounted protection system was used in 177 cases, the Percusurge Guardwire protection device in 98 cases an EPI filter in 12 cases. There was a contralateral internal carotid occlusion in 13% of cases. A combined stenting (vertebral, siphon, subclavian) was performed in 14% of cases. A Rolling membrane Wallstent was used in 84 patients, a first generation Easy Wallstent in 38 cases, a "Carotid" Easy Wallstent 35 in 55 cases and monorail 14 in 110 cases. Full opening of the stenosis was obtained in 98% of patients with correction of the arterial curve and improvement of the cerebral vascular supply. There were 0.7% cases with transient symptomatic neurological complications and 2% with permanent sequelae mainly related to avoidable inadequacy in flushing or to the insufficient radial force of the first generation Easy Wallstent. There were no per and one post-procedural cardiac complication (0.6%) in the s165 cases performed with the "Carotid" Easy Wallstent. Follow-up angiograms showed 0.7% of restenoses. Still in evolution, endovascular treatment of atheromatous stenoses at the carotid bifurcation with cerebral protection and stenting is a promising alternative technique to surgery. The association of Carotid Easy Wallstent 14 monorail and Percusurge Guardwire appears to be currently satisfactory.