Clinical, Anatomic, and Procedural Durability of Carotid Revascularization

Carotid endarterectomy and carotid angioplasty with stenting are 2 common approaches to revascularization. Phase III randomized clinical trials have focused on comparisons of periprocedural outcomes and composite outcomes that combine procedural events and clinical events during follow-up. The comparison of outcomes beyond the perioperative risk period, where the principal concern is durability, defined in clinical, anatomic, and procedural terms, has received less attention. The purpose of this review is to discuss factors that may influence durability and to compare the durability of carotid revascularization techniques beyond the perioperative period using data from randomized clinical trials.