OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy, safety, procedural success and long-term clinical outcome in patients underwent percutaneous carotid stenting with distal device.

METHODSPercutaneous carotid stents with distal device were implanted to 58 patients with 59 significant (> 75%) carotid artery stenosis (49 men, mean age 68 years) between January 2000 to December 2005. Forty-five out of 58 patients were symptomatic, 35 had coronary artery diseases and 10 had previous strokes.

RESULTSSixty one carotid stenting were implanted to 59 lesions in 58 patients. Stents with filter devices were successfully implanted in 57 out of 58 (98%) patients. Angioplasty success rate was 100%. Aspirin (300 mg/d) and Clopidogrel (75 mg x 2/d) were administered 3 days prior operation and clopidogrel was discontinued 30 days post stenting and aspirin was continued at dose of 100 mg/d. The percentage of stenotic carotid artery reduced from 85.3% to 6.2% after stenting and the diameter increased from 1.3 +/- 0.9 mm to 5.2 +/- 1.1 mm. Two minor strokes (3.4%) occurred during operation and at 14 days post stenting. All patients were discharged from the hospital after an average of 2.5 days hospitalization. At 14 +/- 2 months follow up, all patients survived and there were 2 asymptomatic restenosis (50% and 70% and the latter underwent successful balloon angioplasty), 2 myocardial infarctions (1 non-Q wave and 1 Q wave myocardial infarction, all underwent successful emergent PCI) and 2 minor strokes occurred at 6 and 8 months post stenting.

CONCLUSIONCarotid stenting with distal device appears to be safe and effective in treating patients with carotid artery stenosis.