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Study: Angioplasty, Stenting Increase Stroke Risk

The September 17, 2003 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology highlights a study showing more than 20% of people who have undergone carotid angioplasty and stenting procedures may have particles break off from the artery walls and travel to the brain causing stroke.

Carotid angioplasty involves inserting a small balloon into a narrowed carotid artery and inflating it to spread the blockage open wider so more blood can flow through. Stents are small wire mesh tubes that are left behind to hold the artery open. Small particles can break off of the artery walls during the procedures and travel to the brain, blocking blood flow and causing strokes.

Researchers in Germany looked at MRI studies of 42 patients before and after they had the procedures. They found that protection devices designed to trap the small particles before they get to the brain don’t always work.

Of the 42 patients studied, 9 of them (21%) had particles break free, bypass the protection devices and travel to the brain, blocking blood flow.

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