Endovascular Stenting of Tandem Carotid Artery Origin and Bifurcation Stenotic Lesions Using Flow Reversal.

Background: The treatment of tandem lesions involving severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery with concomitant stenosis of the ipsilateral common carotid artery (CCA) origin represents an ongoing challenge. Current options for the treatment of tandem carotid artery origin and bifurcation stenotic lesions include open surgical endarterectomy, endovascular stenting, balloon angioplasty, and hybrid procedures combining both modalities. However, these options are either associated with high peri-operative risks or not always anatomically feasible.

Case description: We report, for the first time in North America (to the best of our knowledge), an alternative treatment modality that involves obtaining access through a direct carotid cut-down, with serial treatment of the tandem lesions through a combination of retrograde and anterograde endovascular stenting.

Conclusion: This technique obviates the need for navigating the aortic arch in patients with difficult arch anatomy and permits the use of distal embolic protection devices, thus decreasing the risk of peri-operative ischemic events.