[Angiographic follow-up after carotid artery stenting of bifurcation stenosis]

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the restenosis grade, the intima hyperplasia and the stent expansion via angiographic follow-up six months after carotid artery stenting.

In 100 patients, angiographic follow-up was performed 5.9 months (range: 2.9-11.4 months) after carotid artery stenting. The restenosis grade, the intima hyperplasia and the stent expansion were measured by selective angiography of the treated carotid artery.

The mean restenosis grade was 16 % (range: 0-78 %). In 6 of 100 patients (6 %), a restenosis grade of > 50 % was measured. In 4 patients the restenosis grade was 50-70 %. In 2 patients the restenosis grade was > 70 %. In 91 of 100 patients (91 %), the restenosis was localized in the former area of stenosis of the carotid artery, and in 9 of 100 patients (9 %), the restenosis was localized in the cranial stent end. The mean grade of intima hyperplasia was 31 % (range: 2-70 %). The mean increase in stent expansion at the time of follow-up was 10 % (range: 0-59 %). No correlation was able to be determined between the grade of stenosis and the grade of restenosis (rho = 0.017, range: - 0.180-0.213), between the grade of residual stenosis and the grade of restenosis (rho = 0.257, range: 0.064-0.431) and between intima hyperplasia and the grade of restenosis (rho = 0.476, range: 0.309-0.615).

Carotid artery stenting is associated with a low incidence of high-grade restenosis 6 months after an intervention. The intima hyperplasia, which can be observed in each Wallstent, is partly compensated by the expansion of the self-expandable stent. Without a correlation between the grade of residual stenosis and the grade of restenosis, low-grade residual stenosis can be accepted. Therefore, we recommend undersized postdilation of the Wallstent.