Guidelines for patient selection and performance of carotid artery stenting.

The endovascular treatment of carotid atherosclerosis with carotid artery stenting (CAS) is controversial. The inter-collegiate Carotid Stenting Guidelines Committee (CSGC) recommends that CAS should not be performed in the majority of patients requiring carotid revascularization. CAS may be considered for specific high risk patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis who have contraindications for carotid endarterectomy, or in those under 70years of age where carotid re-vascularization is considered appropriate. Advances in endovascular technologies and the long-term results of randomized controlled trials will guide future revisions of these guidelines.