Carotid stenting in a case of combined kinking and stenosis

Endarterectomy is currently the preferred treatment for severe carotid stenosis. The technique of eversion endarterectomy allows correction of severe vessel elongation and kinking. The latter is generally believed to be a relative contraindication for endovascular stent placement. We report successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of a left internal carotid artery with high-grade stenosis and severe kinking which was not amenable to endarterectomy because of the distal location of the stenosis. Advanced stent technology with flexible materials makes endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis feasible even in cases of kinking.