Carotid endarterectomy versus stenting for stroke prevention: what we have and will learn from Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial

The Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial (CREST) has major implications for the future of carotid revascularization and stroke prevention. The purpose of The William Hinter Harridge Lecture was to discuss the history of carotid revascularization before CREST, to delineate the emergence of carotid artery stenting as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy, analyze the key findings in CREST, and describe the next phase of investigation, CREST-2.