The impact of stent cell design on the outcome of carotid artery stenting

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Recently, increasing numbers of carotid artery stenting (CAS) have been performed. However, little has been known as to whether stent cell design matters. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of open- versus closed- cell stent design on 30-day outcome and restenosis after CAS.
Methods: 122 consecutive patients who underwent CAS with either open-cell (n=80, 73.0%) or closed-cell (n=33, 27.0%) design stents were studied and 15 patients within 7 days from the attack of ischemic stroke excluded. Major adverse events within 30 days after procedure and restenosis (>70%) were analyzed.
Results: Overall, the mean age was 72.6±5.9 versus 74.8±7.1; ratio of men was 80 (90%) versus 33 (91%); mean stenosis was 77.1±13.6% versus 82.3±12.9%; and 62 (60%) versus 21 (63%) had neurological symptoms pre-procedurally. There was no difference in baseline clinical characteristics between the two groups. There were 4 patients with major adverse events within 30 days, 3 of which had postoperative embolic complications and underwent CAS with open cell stent. By contrast, there were 3 patients with restenosis, who were treated with closed cell stent (a significant difference: p<0.01).
Conclusion: These results suggest that there is an impact on procedural outcomes based on open- or closed-cell stents. Postoperative embolic complications are associated with open cell stent, whereas restenosis is associated with closed cell stent.