The role of endovascular surgery in carotid restenosis.

Purpose: To report the immediate and long-term outcome of intraoperative balloon angioplasty for the treatment of recurrent disease in the internal carotid arteries (ICAs).
Methods: Three patients (2 males, 1 female; ages 53 to 70 years) presented with > 80% restenotic lesions (bilateral in one patient) at the distal aspect of a previous carotid endarterectomy. Two patients exhibited hemianopia, while the third was asymptomatic but had a contralateral ICA occlusion. All four lesions appeared smooth and fibrous on ultrasonography and were located high in the ICA. The location and morphology of the lesions made balloon angioplasty a more potentially successful treatment option.
Results: Through open access to the common carotid artery, the lesions were approached and dilated under fluoroscopic guidance with monitoring of evoked potentials. The lesions were successfully dilated as determined by control arteriography, and no complications were encountered. Over a follow-up period extending to 18 months in one patient and 24 months in the other two, ultrasound imaging and arteriography have shown no restenosis at any treatment site.
Conclusions: Although caution is prudent when dealing with lesions in the cervical arteries, balloon angioplasty may have a role in treating surgically inaccessible restenotic carotid lesions that demonstrate a low potential for embolic complications. More experience with this technique will be required before widespread application of balloon angioplasty in the cervical vessels can occur.