Carotid artery stenting for high-risk patients

Carotid artery stenting is being increasingly considered as a treatment option for high-risk patients with internal carotid artery atherosclerosis or vasculopathies. Since carotid endarterectomy is a procedure with a longer track record, some clinicians consider stenting to be appropriate only in high-risk conditions such as patients with severe medical comorbidities, recurrent stenosis following previous endarterectomy, or radiation-induced stenosis. The application of stenting in these areas is discussed, as well as the potential role for stenting in patients with acute ischemic stroke.