Primary stenting for the acute treatment of carotid artery dissection.

Abstract

To review and evaluate our experience with carotid artery stenting in the acute treatment of carotid artery dissection (CAD). Reviewing the charts of our hospital between 2000 and 2001, we found two consecutive patients who benefited from primary stenting for the acute treatment of spontaneous extracranial internal CAD. Primary stenting of the internal carotid artery was successful in both cases without any post-operative complications. Clinical and US duplex scan follow-up confirmed the absence of neurological symptoms and the patency of the internal carotid artery with complete disappearance of the dissection at 36 and 42 months after the procedure, respectively. Despite the small number of patients, primary stenting for acute CAD seems to be safe and effective.