Behandelmogelijkheden voor patiënten met een symptomatische carotisstenose

- The classical treatment for severe and symptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid is carotid endarterectomy.

- An endarterectomy within two weeks after the initial symptoms of a TIA or CVA decreases the chances of new ischaemic symptoms.

- However, there is now an alternative for this operation, namely the placement of an endovascular stent.

- Although this method offers some advantages, there are still insufficient prospective randomised trials to prove that this technique is just as suitable as the classical method.

- Various studies are now in progress to evaluate the short- and long-term results of endovascular treatment in comparison with endarte-rectomy.

- For the time being, therefore, stent placement should only be done in the context of clinical trials.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149:1261-6