Fest im klinischen alltag etabliert - Stellenwert der interventionellen therapie bei karotisstenosen

The consequences of a carotid-associated stroke such as hemiparesis, lameness, aphasia or depression are severe: up to 50% of those afflicted require the help of others. Accordingly, the diagnosis and treatment of stenosis of the carotid is of great importance. Although, in comparison with a bypass procedure or thromboendarterectomy, transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the carotid is still a relatively recent therapeutic procedure, stent-PTA of the carotid has nevertheless since become firmly established in the clinical routine setting. In patients with a "normal" risk for thromboendarterectomy it is an interesting alternative to surgery. In patients carrying a high or very high risk it even appears superior to the latter. As in thromboendarterectomy, recurrent stenosis is rare. Current studies, in particular prospective randomized studies, are in the process of more accurately defining the value of the method.