Long-term results after carotid stent implantation

Though carotid artery stenting (CS) has gained popularity as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy, studies examining long-term results are limited.

All consecutive patients who underwent unilateral CS between 7/1993 and 8/2005 with no or non-significant contralateral stenosis were included. Follow-up with duplex sonography and/or angiography and neurological assessment was performed at 6 and/or 12 months. Thereafter, annually, a questionnaire was sent to the patients and their referring physicians.

Two-hundred and seventy-nine patients underwent CS. In 99% of procedures stent delivery was successful. The periprocedural major and minor stroke rates were 2.2%, respectively. The periprocedural major stroke or death rate was 2.9%. Median clinical follow-up was 49 ± 32 months (range: 30 days-12.1 years). Excluding perioperative (<30 days) events, the annual major and minor stroke rate was 1.3% and the annual ipsilateral major and minor stroke rate was 0.6%. In symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, the annual major and minor stroke rates were 2.2% and 0.8%, respectively, and the ipsilateral major and minor stroke rates were 1.1% and 0.3%, respectively. There was no significant difference between ipsilateral and contralateral major or minor strokes at long-term follow-up. At last sonographic follow-up (median 36 ± 32 months), restenosis rates for symptomatic and asymptomatic stenoses were 5% and 3%, respectively.

The results of our study demonstrate very low long-term cerebral event rates after CS supporting the long-term safety of CS. Importantly, there was no significant difference in long-term ipsilateral versus contralateral cerebral events lending support to the hypothesis of plaque stabilization.