Direct Transcervical Access vs the Transfemoral Approach for Carotid Artery Stenting: A Systematic Review and...

To examine the safety profile of transcervical access (TCA) in comparison with the transfemoral approach (TFA) in carotid artery stenting.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to current guidelines. Eleven eligible studies including 11,592 patients (10,736 in the TFA group and 856 in the TCA group) were identified through a search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases up to October 2018. A random effects model meta-analysis was conducted, and the I² statistic was used to assess heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and quantified using the Egger method.

The TFA group had a statistically significantly higher risk of periprocedural (30-day) stroke compared with the TCA group (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.63, p=0.027; I²=0%). Also, patients in the TFA group had a significantly higher risk of developing new ischemic lesions (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.48 to 5.96, p=0.002; I²=0%) on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). No differences in terms of transient ischemic attack (OR 1.50, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.10, p=0.268; I²=5.9%), myocardial infarction (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.35; p=0.242; I²=0%), local hematoma (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.12 to 2.25, p=0.389; I²=0%), or mortality (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.62 to 2.92, p=0.449; I²=0%) were identified between the groups.

TCA is associated with a significantly lower risk for periprocedural stroke and DW-MRI ischemic lesions compared with TFA. Other periprocedural outcomes were similar between the groups.