Intraprocedural and Delayed Plaque Protrusion in Carotid Artery Stenting Using a Dual-Layer Metallic Stent

Intravascular ultrasound-determined plaque protrusion (PP) during carotid artery stenting (CAS) using conventional stents is reported in 7.6% to 12% of cases and is associated with periprocedural cerebral embolism. The Casper/Roadsaver stent (CRS) is a dual-layer micromesh stent designed to reduce the risk of PP, with a mesh cell diameter 4-fold smaller size than that of conventional stents. This study investigated the incidence of PP with CRS CAS.

We prospectively analyzed 89 consecutive arteriosclerotic carotid artery stenoses in 82 patients (64 men; mean age, 76.8 years; 43 symptomatic) who underwent CAS with CRS under intravascular ultrasound. The main end points were the technical success rate, incidences of intraprocedural PP and at 1 week after CAS (delayed PP), incidence of new ipsilateral diffusion-weighted imaging lesion within 48 hours post CAS, and major adverse events (myocardial infarction, stroke, death) within 30 days. Secondary end points were the rate of in-stent restenosis and ipsilateral stroke at 30 days and 12 months.

The technical success rate was 100%. Intraprocedural PP occurred in 2 patients (2.2%). Delayed PP occurred in 3 additional patients (3.4%). Diffusion-weighted imaging positivity was 24.7%. Major adverse events (minor stroke) occurred in 1 patient (1.1%). In-stent restenosis occurred in 5 patients (6.0%) by 12 months. No ipsilateral stroke occurred during the follow-up.

The incidence of intraprocedural PP with CRS CAS was 2.2%, indicating a significant reduction compared to conventional stents. However, at 7 days new PP had occurred in 3.4% of patients, indicating that patients with CRS should be followed up for delayed PP.