Carotid Artery Stenting and Hystopathological Analysis of Cerebral Protection Devices: Our Experience

摘要

Bhckground: stenting procedures of ICA (CAS) are affected with high risk of cerebral embolization, so filter devices for cerebral protection are used in order to reduce distal debris embolization. Our purpose is to analyse the contents of filter protection devices after CAS.Materials and Methods: 45 procedures of CAS were performed in 44 patients in which surgery was contraindicated, primarily using porous membrane filter devices and, in some case only, using nitinol mesh filters. In 36 cases atherosclerotic plaque involved ICA origin, in 8 cases the carotid bifurcation and in 1 case distal ICA. The average grade of stenosis was 82%; more of 60% were primitive lesions. In 37 cases nitinol self-expandable stents were used; in 8 cases self-expandable stents with tubular mesh configuration were used. 10 patients (22%) needed predilatation and 28 (62%) underwent postdilata-tion. Each cerebral protection device has been ex-aminated by an expert pathologist, who classified filter contents according to dimensions and typology.