Angioplasty - Carotid Artery Angioplasty

Carotid Artery Angioplasty with Stenting (CAS)

Carotid angioplasty with stenting is a minimally invasive procedure in which a very small hollow tube, or catheter, is advanced from a blood vessel in the groin to the carotid arteries. Once the catheter is in place, a balloon may be inflated to open the artery and a stent is placed.

A stent is a cylinder-like tube made of thin metal-mesh framework used to hold the artery open. Because there is a risk of stroke from bits of plaque breaking off during the procedure, an apparatus, called an embolic protection device, may be used.

An embolic protection device is a filter (like a small basket) that is attached on a guidewire to catch any debris that may break off during the procedure. While this procedure is performed widely, the long-term effects are still being studied.