Major study of carotid stents may help local medical device makers

Recently, a study was performed involving 2500 patients concerning the benefits of carotid stents versus surgery to un block clogged arteries. The study is called the Carotid Revasulariztion Endartectomy (versus) Stenting Trial, or CREST. CREST compared the results from patients who had stents put in to those patients who underwent endartectomies. This surgery involves a doctor cutting into the blocked vessel and removing the deposited plaque. When stents are implanted, a small ballon is first inserted in to the vessel, inflated to expand the artery and then the stent itself is implanted to keep the walls open. It was found in this study, which was the “largest randomized study of its kind,” according to MedCity News, that stents and surgery were equally effective at preventing long term strokes and heart attacks. However, results also show that in patients 69 and younger, stents were slightly more effective, and with patients 70 and older, surgery was slightly more effective. It has been debated for a long time, which method was better at treating blocked arteries, and CREST was able to provide reliable answers to this debate.
I found this article to be of particular interest to me because several of the professors I currently have, and had in the past specialized in cardiovascular research including stent studies. Also, we recently learned about this topic in depth in physiology class, and it was a very interesting section. It is truly amazing how the heart works and how it physiologically interacts with other parts of the body to keep us alive.

Link to article: http://www.medcitynews.com/index.php/2010/02/major-study-of-carotid-stents-may-help-local-medical-device-makers/

Charlcie Northrop
VTPP 435-502