Carotid Endarterectomy or Stenting in Octogenarians in a Monocentric Experience

Background: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients at high risk for complications from surgery. The very elderly (≥80-year-old) are 1 subgroup of patients identified as being at increased risk for carotid surgery. However, there is concern that the very elderly are also at increased risk for complications of CAS. A stroke and death rate of 12% were reported in very elderly patients during the roll-in phase of Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stent Trial. We are reporting on a clinical series of CAS and CEA with independent neurologic assessment in the very elderly. The aim of this article is to evaluate early and mild-term results obtained in the treatment of the carotid artery stenosis in symptomatic and asymptomatic octogenarians, comparing the data of CEA and CAS in academic hospital. Methods: Between 2002 and 2013, a consecutive series of 129 CAS and 45 CEA patients (≥80-year-old) were treated in our academic hospital, a center with extensive carotid revascularization experience. Independent neurologic assessment was performed before and after procedures. Exclusion criteria were cerebral hemorrhage diagnosed within 6 months, cerebral tumors and dementia. Hostile aortic arches were nevertheless treated with alternative approaches like cervical or radial access. All the procedures have been performed by the senior authors. Results: The average age was 86.9 years. Most patients were male (56%), and the target lesion carotid stenosis was asymptomatic in 80% of patients. No significant differences were obtained regarding gender, symptoms, risk factors or comorbidities, and evident CT lesions among the 2 groups of different treatments. Embolic protection devices were used in all cases with the CAS procedure. The overall 30-day incidence of stroke and death was 2.3% (3 of 129) in CAS group and 4.4% (2 of 45) in CEA group. Conclusions: Exclusion of high-risk patients from CAS, based on age alone, seems to be unjustified. Octogenarians are not at increased risk of periprocedural adverse events after CAS compared with younger patients. The key to obtain satisfactory results is CAS to be performed by an experienced team able to use not only standard filter protected CAS but also familiar with all the other types of access and protection techniques.