Carotid stent fracture: diagnosis and management

With increasing numbers of carotid stent implantations, stent fractures likely will be detected in this vessel region. The authors report two cases of stent fracture: one balloon expandable and one self expandable stent fractured and caused symptoms. CT angiography identified the stent fractures. One partial stent fracture in the internal carotid artery caused a significant restenosis. One complete stent fracture in the common carotid artery caused neurological symptoms, but no significant restenosis. Computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) findings were confirmed by conventional angiography and treated by repeated stent implantation. In a 12-month follow-up period, both patients remained further neurologically asymptomatic and there was no restenosis in duplex sonography or CTA.