Early outcomes after carotid angioplasty with stenting performed by neurologists

To evaluate the results of carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS) in treating extracranial carotid artery stenosis performed by neurologists in our center and compare the results with other large published series.

Data for all patients who underwent CAS from January 2003 through November 2007, was retrieved from the Nanjing Stroke Registry. Perioperative and post-procedural complications within 30 days following stenting were analyzed and compared with that from other series. A total number of 75 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 65.9 ± 8.8 years, and 64 (85.3%) of them were male.

Procedural success was achieved in 74 patients (98.7%). Pre-treatment stenosis was 73.8 ± 14.9 and post-treatment residual stenosis was less than 10%. Thirty-four patients (45.3%) had bilateral carotid artery disease and seven (9.3%) had tandem stenosis. The neurological complication rate was 3.9% (one major and two minor strokes). Bradycardia in four (5.3%) and hypotension in 13 (17.3%) were observed during procedures. Using the Fischer's exact t test, the complication rate compared with the large published series did not reveal any statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).

We conclude that neurologists, with adequate training, can develop and add this technical skill to the existing cognitive skill of vascular neurology and safely perform stenting.