Carotid artery stenting in the elderly: the time has come

Affecting over half a million people per year, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 30% of strokes are caused by carotid occlusive disease.1 The traditional methods of treating carotid stenosis have included medical or surgical therapy. Classically, those with symptomatic moderate or severe cervical carotid arterial stenosis have been treated with carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Medical therapy with aspirin and more recently with Clopidigrel (Plavix) has been reserved for mild to moderate (asymptomatic) carotid arterial stenosis or non-cervical carotid arterial stenosis.