Faculty Bibliography

In the last 25 years, the very existence of carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been threatened on a number of occasions. The initial disappointing results that even lead to the discontinuation of an early randomized controlled trial have improved considerably with time. Novel devices, advanced stent and equipment technology, alternative types of access and several types of filters/emboli protecting devices have been reported to reduce stroke/death rates during/after CAS and improve CAS outcomes. The present review will provide a description of the various technology advances in the field that aim to reduce stroke and death rates associated with CAS. Transcervical access, reversal of flow and mesh-covered stents are currently the most promising tools in the armamentarium of CAS.

Idiopathic carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by pain and tenderness over the carotid artery without an associated structural luminal abnormality. Controversy exists over whether this is a distinct disease entity or merely a symptom attributable to other causes of neck pain, such as carotid dissection or vasculitis. A 50-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset right neck pain. Imaging studies demonstrated transmural inflammation of the proximal internal carotid artery, without evidence of intraluminal pathology. The patient was placed on low-dose aspirin and ibuprofen. Her symptoms resolved within a week. At 3-month follow-up, her carotid artery appeared normal on duplex ultrasonography.