Carotid artery disease: stenting versus endarterectomy

Atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis is a major cause of disabling stroke or death. Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is currently considered to be the standard of care for patients with a severe symptomatic stenosis and selected patients with an asymptomatic carotid stenosis, carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is increasingly being used as an alternative treatment modality. This article briefly summarizes the current trial data on CEA and CAS. More importantly, potential risk factors for CEA and CAS are reviewed and the complementary role of these techniques in the management of the individual patient is discussed.