Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting Trials

The goal of treatment of carotid artery stenosis is to prevent stroke and death. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. This chapter focuses on the evidence supporting the use of carotid artery stenting for treatment of carotid artery stenosis. The data supporting carotid angioplasty and stenting have been primarily observational registries and a few randomized controlled trials comparing carotid angioplasty and stenting to carotid endarterectomy. No trial has compared carotid angioplasty and stenting to medical therapy.