Initial experience with the inspire MD C-Guard stent in the treatment of carotid artery disease.

One of the main issue concerning the treatment of carotid artery stenosis is about the use of stents which could offer the best navigability through the lesion and the smallest "maximum unprotected circular area", ensuring the lowest risk of neurological complication both intraprocedurally and in the long term. Recently, Inspire MD (Tel Aviv, Israel) presented the new stent Inspire MD C-Guard™, a bare-metal stent covered by a micron level mesh (MicroNet). We report our experience about the use of this novel stent in the endovascular treatment of carotid artery stenosis, with some technical considerations. Data about patients in whom the Inspire MD C-Guard was used for the treatment of carotid artery diseases were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The procedure was completed in all patients without any intraoperative complications. Postoperative course was uneventful in all cases and no complications have been recorded till now. In our limited experience, the Inspire MD C-Guard has proven to be a safe stent for the treatment of carotid artery diseases. However large studies are needed to better explain strengths and weaknesses of this device.