Aims: Our aim was to report techniques and outcomes of our experience in percutaneous stenting of ostial common carotid artery lesions.
Methods and results: We retrospectively reviewed patient medical records at our institution from January 2005 until April 2011 to determine baseline characteristics, procedural details and follow-up data of patients who underwent percutaneous stenting of ostial lesions of the common carotid artery. Our study included 17 patients of whom eight (47%) were male. Sixteen of the 17 (94.1%) procedures were performed in left common carotid arteries. In seven recent patients we used a standardised technique, which was characterised by crossing the lesion with a 0.014" wire, followed by insertion of an embolic protection device with a 300 cm long wire. In this technique, the stent mounted on a 0.035" balloon catheter was deployed on both wires instead of only on the embolic protection device wire. Mean follow-up was 17.6 months. During the follow-up, only one patient had a transient ischaemic attack, and none of them had either stroke, ischaemic retinal event, myocardial infarction or contrast nephropathy. Death was observed in five patients at the end of the study period.
Conclusions: Stenting of ostial lesions of the common carotid artery appears safe and effective.