Carotid Stent-Assisted Angioplasty: Preliminary Technique, Angiography, and Intravascular Ultrasound Observations.

Currently, surgical carotid endarterectomy has been the standard therapy for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with significant carotid artery stenoses. However, there are high surgical risk and other patient subsets, wherein a Òlesser invasiveÓ catheter-based procedure may be worthwhile. Carotid stent-assisted angioplasty (CSSA) is a percutaneous interventional treatment approach for appropriately selected patients with common and internal carotid artery lesions.