The Feasibility and Safety of Separate Carotid Artery Stenting Using the Restrict Protective Method for Bilateral Carotid Stenosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The treatment strategy for bilateral carotid stenosis (BCS) is not clear. We report our experience of treating 12 patients with BCS using separate carotid artery stenting (CAS) using the restrict protective method. The order of treatment site and the protective method are also discussed. METHODS: Between April 2012 and November 2016, 24 lesions in 12 patients (range, 44-83 years; mean, 71 years; 1 woman) underwent CAS at Kariya Toyota General Hospital. These cases were reviewed retrospectively. In all cases, CAS was first performed on the more severely stenosed site. All procedures were performed using the proximal protective method involving balloons and a filter device. We took into consideration adverse events including death from any cause, major stroke within 30 days, and death between 30 days and 1 year later from any stroke. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully performed under local anesthesia. There was not a single case that showed intolerance during flow arrest to prevent distal embolisms. We observed no adverse events, restenosis, or recurrent symptoms during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Good outcomes can be achieved in patients with BCS when attempting separate CAS using the restrict protective method.