Observing the carotid debris aspirated during carotid stenting: technical note

Elective carotid stent implantation using a distal protection is increasing. In this article we describe an observation method for carotid plaque debris collection during carotid stenting.

Endovascular stenting for the right internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis was performed under distal balloon protection. During balloon protection, 30 ml of blood containing debris was aspirated followed by vigorous saline irrigation flushing any residual debris out into the ipsilateral external carotid circulation. Post-operatively, the aspirated blood was filtered and the debris remained on the membrane. The membrane was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) solution and then mounted onto a glass slide for visualization.

Microscopic observation of the slide revealed several debris such as atheromatous plaques and intimal strips. HE staining facilitates the characterization of the debris composition. In addition to the histological evaluation, this technique revealed the particle size as well as the quantity of debris. The resulting HE slide is also suitable for permanent storage. In addition to the qualitative and quantitative qualities, this simple technique requires neither specific instrumentation nor equipment.

Carotid plaque debris aspirated during carotid artery stenting under distal protection can be filtered and visualized on a permanent glass slide. This simple method allows us to better understand quantity, particle size, and composition of debris.