From surgical clamping to endovascular flow arrest/reversal: the concept behind the system

Carotid artery lesions are frequently composed of friable, thrombotic, ulcerated and/or hemorrhagic materials which can embolize during surgical or endovascular interventions. The use of embolic protection devices (EPD) during carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has been proven to be associated with a reduction of the embolic load. Many studies indicate that the clinical results of CAS are comparable with the best surgical series, when EPD are routinely applied. The proximal EPD work by interrupting or reversing the blood flow in the common carotid artery/internal carotid artery (CCA/ICA). Once established the endovascular flow arrest/reversal, these systems have the advantages of promoting a protected crossing of the lesion and blocking both macro-emboli and micro-emboli. Moreover, proximal neuroprotection implies no manipulation of the device in the distal ICA, neither during device deployment nor during device retrieval, and reduces the risk of arterial spasm, dissection, or intimal damage. The choice between transfemoral and transcervical proximal EPD should account for different factors: local availability, operator expertise, and patient characteristics including anatomical features precluding flow arrest/reversal (e.g., incomplete circle of Willis), femoral access (e.g., unfavorable aortic arch anatomy), or transcervical access (e.g., diseased CCA).