C arotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has evolved into an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the treatment of atherosclerotic carotid stenosis, particularly since the publication of the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stent Trial (CREST) in 2010. 4 In the CREST, as in most other randomized controlled trials and large case series, the standard technical protocols include the use of embolic protection devices (EPDs), self-expanding stents (SESs), and balloons preand postdilation. It has, however, been shown that EPDs do not catch all debris generated by balloons and that these expensive devices may cause complications themselves.
10Every pass of a device through an atherosclerotic stenosis generates distal emboli.2,31 Balloon angioplasty, both before and after stent insertion, releases significant amounts of embolic debris 20,24,26,28,33 and often results in significant hemodynamic instability, defined as bradycardia (< 60 beats/min) and hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg).27 Some major centers now rarely perform prestent balloon angioplasty, deliberately undersize poststent abbreviatioNs CAS = carotid angioplasty and stenting; CEA = carotid endarterectomy; CREST = Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stent Trial; CTA = CT angiography; EPD = embolic protection device; NASCET = North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial; PCS = primary carotid stenting; PLAC = Predicting Long-term outcome with Angioplasty of the Carotid artery; PSV = peak systolic velocity; SES = self-expanding stent. obJect Carotid angioplasty and stenting has emerged as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy for the treatment of atherosclerotic carotid stenosis. Primary carotid stenting, performed using self-expanding stents alone without deliberate use of embolic protection devices and balloon angioplasty, has been shown to be effective and faster, cheaper, and potentially safer than conventional techniques. However, the long-term morphological results of this technique have not been established. The aim of this study was to determine whether preprocedural carotid plaque imaging at the site of maximal stenosis by using CT angiography (CTA) could predict the long-term morphological outcome of primary carotid stenting. methods One hundred eighty-one patients were treated over an 11-year period. Preprocedural CTA was performed in 102 of these. A morphological scale (the Predicting Long-term outcome with Angioplasty of the Carotid artery [PLAC] Scale), with grades from 0 to 4 and A or B, was used to evaluate the circumferential degree of plaque calcification, and the presence or absence of soft plaque. All patients were followed using duplex carotid ultrasound and plain radiographs. Satisfactory morphological outcome was defined as a peak systolic velocity < 120 cm/s and internal carotid artery/common carotid artery ratio < 1.4. results The average follow-up duration was 29.7 months (median 24.5 months, range 0.3-87 months). Univariate logistic regression demonstrated that a low ca...