Endarterectomy, Stenting, or Neither for Asymptomatic Carotid-Artery Stenosis

Important data from two large, randomized trials comparing early and late outcomes after carotid endarterectomy and carotid-artery stenting have now been published in the Journal.1,2 In common with every other large, multicenter, randomized trial to date, the Asymptomatic Carotid Trial (ACT I) and the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial (CREST) showed that after the perioperative period, there was no difference in the rate of late ipsilateral stroke after endarterectomy or stenting. In ACT I, which included asymptomatic patients who were deemed to be at average risk, the 5-year rate of ipsilateral stroke (excluding the perioperative period) was . . .