Outcomes of carotid stenting among symptomatic patients: a contemporary review

Strokes have an extremely significant socioeconomic impact on the healthcare industry with a resultant poor quality of life. The majority of strokes result from embolic phenomenon, a third originating from carotid atheromatous plaque. The gold-standard treatment for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis has been carotid endarterectomy; however, carotid artery stenting over the last decade has become an increasingly accepted and performed alternative. This article describes the outcomes of carotid stenting among symptomatic patients and examines the trials that have been performed regarding the treatment options.