Carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) in patients with carotid stenosis (CS) has become more restricted in France especially since the disclosure of such studies as EVA-3S and Stent-supported percutaneous angioplasty of the carotid artery versus endarterectomy (SPACE). This report is of a series of CS cases contraindicated for endarterectomy that underwent CAS at a French center of interventional neuroradiology.

Fifty-five patients with symptomatic CS more than 60% consecutively submitted to CAS between September 2008 and February 2011. The primary endpoint was either death or stroke within 30days of the procedure; a secondary goal was to identify any possible factors that might have influenced the success and outcome of the intervention.

The overall periprocedural stroke/death rate at 30days was 5.4% (three out of 55patients), with three non-disabling strokes and no deaths. Twenty-seven patients (49.1%) were treated with a cerebral protection device (CPD). Stent placement was achieved in all cases. Open- and closed-cell stents were implanted in 40 (72.7%) and 15procedures (27.3%), respectively. Neither the use of a CPD, the carotid stent cell design nor any anatomical or technical factors were associated with a lower risk of stroke or death within 30days of CAS.

CAS in symptomatic patients with CS contraindicated for endarterectomy in this selected French series proved feasible and safe, with acceptable levels of morbidity. Use of a CPD, type of stent (open- or closed-cell), and anatomical and technical factors had no influence on the success of the procedure or the outcome within 30days of the operation.