Percutaneous Angioplasty of Atherosclerotic Carotid Arteries

Preliminary reports on percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the internal carotid artery are promising. Our experience on 32 patients with symptomatic carotid stenoses is reviewed here. Successful dilation was obtained in 33 of 35 procedures, with an estimated patency rate of 85% at 1 year. In 3 cases, transient neurologic symptoms occurred within 2 days of angioplasty. Transient neck pain and bradycardia were the most commonly observed complications during carotid dilation. Carotid PTA may be considered as a valid alternative to endarterectomy, at least in selected cases.