[Carotid angioplasty]

The first angioplasty of a carotid artery stenosis was performed 20 years ago. However, only in recent years has the method been improved, mainly by cardiologists (guiding catheters, stents), and is performed today as primary stent implantation (PTCS). This procedure is achieving an increase not only of the immediate success rate (nearly 100%) but also of the long-term success rate. Additionally neurologic complications (< 6%) and rate of restenosis (< 10%) have been reduced. Further technological improvement is expected (cerebral protection). Some indications are now accepted by vascular surgeons. Patients with high risk for carotid thrombendarterectomy (TEA) are mainly treated interventionally since TEA is still accepted as the gold standard. A definitive validation of PTCS compared to TEA is still outstanding, but reguired in the near future.