Risks Outlined for 2 Carotid Procedures

Doctors use two ways to open up blockages in neck (carotid) arteries. They do surgery or insert a tube called a stent. A new review of research finds that the risk of stroke, heart attack or other problems is different after each of the two procedures. Researchers put together the results from 13 studies that compared the two approaches. They included nearly 7,500 people. Those who got stents had a 65% higher risk of death or stroke within 30 days than those who got surgery. But in that period, people who had surgery were more likely to have other problems. Their chance of having a heart attack was 55% higher than for those who got a stent. Their chance of nerve paralysis was 85% higher. Authors of the study said more research is needed to determine who is most likely to benefit from each procedure. The study appeared in the journal Archives of Neurology.