Carotid artery stenting with distal protection using the Carotid Wallstent and FilterWire neuroprotection: Single-center experience of 380 cases with midterm outcomes

Emerging data have supported the clinical efficacy of carotid artery stenting (CAS) in stroke prevention in high-risk surgical patients. This study was performed to evaluate the midterm clinical outcome of CAS using the Carotid Wallstent and FilterWire distal protection (both Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) at an academic institution. Risk factors for in-stent restenosis (ISR) were also analyzed. Clinical variables and treatment outcome of high-risk patients who underwent Carotid Wallstent placement with FilterWire EX/EZ neuroprotection were analyzed during a recent 54-month period. Three hundred eighty CAS procedures were performed in 354 patients. Technical success was achieved in 372 cases (98%), and symptomatic lesions existed in 85 (24%) patients. No patient experienced periprocedural mortality or neuroprotective device-related complication. The 30-day stroke and death rate was 2.7%, and the overall complication rate was 6.9%. The overall major or fatal stroke rates in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were 4.6% and 1.3%, respectively (not significant). The overall stroke and death rates between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups were 5.8% and 2.4%, respectively (not significant). The median follow-up period was 29 months (range 1-53 months). With Kaplan-Meier analysis, the rates of freedom from 60% or greater ISR after CAS procedures at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months were 97%, 94%, 92%, and 90%, respectively. The rates of freedom from all fatal and nonfatal strokes at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months were 97%, 91%, 89%, and 85%, respectively. Multivariable analysis of significant univariate predictors identified that postendarterectomy stenosis (odds ratio [OR] 3.98, p = .02) and multiple stent placement (OR 3.68, p = .03) were independent predictors of ISR. Our study yielded favorable short-term and midterm clinical results using Carotid Wallstent with FilterWire neuroprotection. Late follow-up results showed low rates of fatal and nonfatal stroke and favorable ISR rates compared with other carotid stent trials. Postendarterectomy and multiple stent placement were associated with subsequent ISR.