Early restenosis after eversion carotid endarterectomy versus carotid stenting: a single-centre retrospective study.

Aim: The aim of our study was to compare the early restenosis rate between patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) at a single cardiovascular institution.
Methods: In 2004, 368 carotid endarterectomies were carried out on 347 patients and 144 internal carotid artery stentings were performed on 140 patients. The mean follow-up time was 18.4 months (range 6-38 months). Restenosis rates were calculated with the Kaplan-Meyer method and the two groups were compared by using log-rank test. Perioperative outcome was also evaluated and the groups were compared with chi-square test.
Results: Significantly more perioperative complications occurred in the CAS group, mainly transient neurological (7.60% vs 2.20% in the CEA group, P<0.05) and cardiovascular symptoms (4.10% vs 1.10% in the CEA group, P<0.05). Moderate restenosis (50-69%) occurred in 11.41% (42/368) of CEA cases and in 4.86% (7/144) of CAS cases (P<0.05). Severe (70%) restenosis rates were 10.05 % in the CEA group and 3.47% in the CAS group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Incidence of restenosis after carotid artery stening was less common than after carotid endarterectomy. On the other hand, perioperative complications were recorded more often after CAS than following CEA.