stents in carotid

    
      Re: stents in carotid
    


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Posted by CCF NEUROSURGERY MD on August 12, 1997 at 20:56:28:

In Reply to: stents in carotid posted by sed on July 28, 1997 at 09:55:42:

: I have been told I will need a stent in my left carotid because of
  fibromuscular dysplasia. I would like to know where this procedure
  can be done successfully and what risks are involved? Anyone that can
  give me information ASAP would be greatly appreciated.
============================================================
Dear Sed:
Fibromuscular dysplasia is the second most common cause for
narrowing of the carotid artery before it enters the skull and brain.
It causes narrowing and bubbling (aneurysms) at different levels of the
artery and this has been called the "string of beads" sign on images
produced by angiography.
The most common symptoms are headache, dizziness and neckpain but it is
most commonly discovered incidentally.
Conventional treatment has been drugs like aspirin to prevent blood
platelets sticking together and clotting the artery.Surgery, although
possible is very difficult high up in the neck and at the base of the
skull where this problem occurs.Therefor, occasionally endovascular
treatments have been considered eg.stenting.
This procedure is used with success in some other large arteries in the
body and early reports in the medical literature suggests a role in the
carotid artery.However it has not yet been FDA approved and as such is
not covered by insurance companies. Many questions regarding longterm
patency, erosion through bloodvssel walls and metel fatigue will be
answered in the future.
This treatment is available at the Cleveland Clinic in selected cases and
has been performed with success.You are welcome to request an evaluation
here but should confer with your own physician.
Good luck, the good news is that some patients have been followed as
long as 5 years without recurrence of symptoms.