Health & Medicine
Stenting Found Safe For Long-Term Stroke Prevention
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Oct 14, 2014 12:57 PM EDT
Using stents can help to keep neck arteries open following invasive neck surgery over long periods of time. Though stenting was previously used as an alternative procedure in which a small mesh cylinder, or stent, was used to keep the artery open, recent findings published in the Lancet reveal that it is a less invasive way to prevent minor bruising in the groin, as well as risk of nerve damage.
"A transient ischaemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, can be a warning sign that someone has carotid artery stenosis, and is at risk of having a major stroke. Preventative procedures to treat such carotid artery stenosis are therefore crucial," said Dr Shamim Quadir, Research Communications Manager at the Stroke Association, in a news release.
"Carotid endarterectomy is a common, yet invasive surgery used to treat carotid artery stenosis, and is widely used throughout the UK. Previously, far less was known about the long-term effectiveness of stenting as an alternative procedure.
"These latest research findings suggest that overall, stenting is just as safe, and equally effective for the long-term prevention of fatal and disabling strokes. Both procedures carry their own risks, and these will need to be considered for each individual patient.
"This research provides a vital step in providing another viable option which will help people significantly reduce their stroke risk."
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First Posted: Oct 14, 2014 12:57 PM EDT
Using stents can help to keep neck arteries open following invasive neck surgery over long periods of time. Though stenting was previously used as an alternative procedure in which a small mesh cylinder, or stent, was used to keep the artery open, recent findings published in the Lancet reveal that it is a less invasive way to prevent minor bruising in the groin, as well as risk of nerve damage.
"A transient ischaemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, can be a warning sign that someone has carotid artery stenosis, and is at risk of having a major stroke. Preventative procedures to treat such carotid artery stenosis are therefore crucial," said Dr Shamim Quadir, Research Communications Manager at the Stroke Association, in a news release.
"Carotid endarterectomy is a common, yet invasive surgery used to treat carotid artery stenosis, and is widely used throughout the UK. Previously, far less was known about the long-term effectiveness of stenting as an alternative procedure.
"These latest research findings suggest that overall, stenting is just as safe, and equally effective for the long-term prevention of fatal and disabling strokes. Both procedures carry their own risks, and these will need to be considered for each individual patient.
"This research provides a vital step in providing another viable option which will help people significantly reduce their stroke risk."
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone