Indications for CAS vs Surgical_Medical Marianne Brodmann Division of Angiology Graz

Therapeutic Options Medical Management Carotid Endarterectomy_CEA Carotid Artery Stenting _CAS

What to prevent? Lausanne Stroke Registry Therapeutic Progress

Western Countries stroke 3rd most case of death and number 1 condition associated with permanent disability Carotid artery stenosis responsible for 10-20% of all ischemic cerebral events Based mostly on atherosclerotic disease, typically affection of origin of carotid internal artery Symptomatic stenosis means Amaurosis fugax, TIA or stroke affecting the corresponding territory in the proceeding 6 mths The greater the severity of stenosis, the greater the risk of recurrent ischemic event Roffi M. Herz 2008;33:490-7.

Therapeutic Progress Risk of recurrence in territory of symptomatic CA stenosis [NASCET 1 ] >70% 26% over 2 years (13%/year) 50-69% 18.5% over 5 years (4.4%/year) Risk of recurrence in territory of asymptomatic CA stenosis [ACST 2 ] >60% yearly risk is ~2% may increase in elderly patients to 3-4%/year contralateral CA stenosis/occlusion carotid plaque heterogenity poor collateral blood supply cardiac or medical illnesses 1 Inzitari D et al. NEJM 2000;342: Halliday A et al Lancet2004;363:

Medical Management Kragsterman B et al. Stroke 2006;37: Aggressive risk factor Management !

Medical Management/Best Medical Treatment SVS Guidelines Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with low grade stenoses <50% symptomatic <60% asymptomatic BEST MEDICAL TREATMENT [Grade I] Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: EVIDENCE 2 RCT´s with 5950 patients [NASCET/ECST] Patients with low-grade stenosis (NASCET <50%, ESCT <70%) CEA elevated the risk for disabling stroke and death at 20%

Best Medical Treatment Barnett HJM NEJM. 1998;339: Evidence Surgery Medical

Best Medical Treatment Antiplatelet Therapy Recommended indefinitely in all patients with carotid stenosis, irrespective of symptoms Antithrombotic Trialists´Collaboration. BMJ 2002;324:71-86.

Best Medical Treatment Antiplatelet Therapy Recent symptomatic CA stenosis Aspirin+Clopidogrel>>Aspirin ??? [Markus HS Circulation 2005;111: ]

Best Medical Treatment Lipids Heart Protection Study  patients (asymptomatic CA stenosis included) 40 mg Simvastatin/Placebo Decline of LDL Cholesterol per 29% associated with a 24% RR for composite endpoint major vascular events [25% RR for stroke] Independent of Baseline Cholesterol Indication for CEA /CAS reduced for 50% in existing CA stenosis

Best Medical Treatment Lipids 4731 patients with recent stroke or TIA, without CAD on high-dose atrovastatin 80 mg atrovastatin daily Influence of aggressive statin therapy Amarenco P et al. NEJM 2006;355:

Best Medical Treatment Arterial Hypertension 5-6 mmHG Reduction systolic blood pressure 2-3 mmHG Reduction diastolic blood pressure [Collins R. Lancet 1990;335:827-38] Effect independent of age, even above 80 yrs, and isolated arterial hypertension [Staessen JA. Lancet 2001;358: ] Symptomatic patients < 5 years/ PROGRESS [Lancet 2001:358: ] 40% RR 28% RR RR 28%

Carotid Endarterectomy_CEA SVS Guidelines Symptomatic patients with stenosis > 50% Asymptomatic patients with stenosis > 60% [as long as perioperative risk is low] [Grade I] Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48:480-6.

Evidence Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: NASCETGrade of stenosis 50-69% 5-year FU any ipsilateral 15.7% vs 22.2% = 15 patients to prevent an ipsilateral stroke Grade of stenosis 70-99% 2-year FUany ipsilateral 9% vs 26% = 6 patients to prevent an ipsilateral stroke disabling or fatal 13.1% vs 2.5% ESCT Grade of stenosis 70-99% similiar results 3-year FUany ipsilateral 2.8 vs 16.8% = 7 patients to prevent an ipsilateral stroke Carotid Endarterectomy_CEA

Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: … is not supported by high quality evidence but rather by very low quality evidence.. NASCET_ Exclusion criteria Life expectancy <5 years and significant co-morbidity Age >79 years proceeding ipsilateral endarterctomy Angiography of both carotid arteries and intercerebral arteries not possible Experience of surgeon and surgical center Carotid Endarterectomy_CEA Evidence

Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: Ulcerated plaques with no flow limitation ????? Carotid Endarterectomy_CEA

SVS Guidelines Symptomatic patients with stenosis > 50% Asymptomatic patients with stenosis > 60% [as long as perioperative risk is low] [Grade I] Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48:480-6.

Evidence 1 Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: Chambers BR Cochrane Rev Halliday A Lancet 2004,363: RCT´s with 5223 patients 2 > 50% Veteran affairs Cooperative Study (1986) > 60% ACAS/ACST (1995/2004) ACST 3 5-year stroke risk 3.8% vs 11% [gain 7.2%] (-perioperative events) disabling/fatal 1.6% vs 5.3%[gain 3.7%] 5-year stroke risk 6.4% vs 11.8% [gain 5.4%] (+perioperative events) disabling/fatal 3.5% vs 6.1%[gain 2.5%] only fatal 2.1% vs 4.2%[gain 2.1%] ACST 3 Benefits remained significantly separately men/women with stenosis graded >70%,80%,90% (duplex) younger < 65 years and between years Carotid Endarterectomy_CEA

Limitations 1 Roffi M. Herz 2008;33: Birkmeyer JD et al. NEJM 2003;349: Benefits of CEA in RCT´s conveyed by low perioperative complication rates [ high volume surgeons and low risk patients ] Patients at risk to die [>80 yrs, co-morbidities….]not included Results of CEA observed in trials may not be reproduced in clinical practice [ overall mortality rate in hospitals taking part in NASCET/ACAS was 1.4% vs 0.6 or 0.1in the trials ] Low-volume hospitals perioperative mortality rate 2.5% [ USA CEA, mean volume 15 procedures/yr/; 1/3 by mean volume 5/yr 2 ]

Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) SVS Guidelines Symptomatic patients with stenosis > 50% [+high perioperative risk] [Grad II, low quality evidence] Good defined by authors: high anatomic risk proceeding CEA with recurrent stenosis proceeding ipsilateral radiation therapy with persistent skin lesions proceeding local surgery (neckdissection….) stenosis of common carotid artery below clavicle contralateral lesion of vocal cord tracheostoma Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: Authors have not well defined„ high medical risk“ renal failure extremly low ejection fraction COPD with necessity of constant oxygen therapy…

Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) Evidence Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: Murad HM J Vasc Surg 2008;48: RCT´s with 3182 patients 2 Majority symptomatic, 1 Trial high surgical risk Learning curve ?? 617 patients /5 trials with low patient numbers Early Trials Multi Center with low patient number/center

Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) Evidence Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: Murad HM J Vasc Surg 2008;48: RCT´s with 3182 patients 2 Majority symptomatic, 1 trial high surgical risk

Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) SVS Guidelines asymptomatic patients Recommendation against stenting for asymptomatic disease [Grad I, low quality evidence] Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48:480-6.

Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) Evidence Hobson RW J Vasc Surg 2008;48: No RCT´s comparing CAS with medical management 2 RCT´s compare CAS mit CEA small number of patients (323) and events (18) (all events in SAPHIRE)

Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) Evidence Deredyn CP. Stroke 2007;38: Majority of data originate from Registries Periprocedural stroke and death rates > 3% (bar at large CEA trials)

Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) Strengths/Limitations Strength Endovascular approach is less invasive May treat lesions that are not accessible to surgery Limitations Poor outcomes are related to challenging anatomies [ steep aortic arch, severe tortuosity…. ] Inability to place an EPD Severe circumferential calicification Severe renal failure

Thank you for your attention!