Update on Carotid Stenting and Endarterectomy

The role of carotid stenting and endarterectomy has been evolving over the past few decades. Results of recent randomized trials have added more insights to the indications of the two established interventions for symptomatic moderate to severe stenosis as well as asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Despite a wide range of complication rates in various trials for both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis, benefits of the two interventions have been consistently demonstrated for symptomatic moderate stenosis as well as asymptomatic severe stenosis albeit with lower benefit margin for asymptomatic disease. Intervention for asymptomatic carotid stenosis should only be considered when the complication rate can be maintained below 3%.