Postapproval Trial On Carotid Stenting in Patients With High Risk Vs Standard Risk for Open Carotid Endarterectomy(REAL)
Postapproval Trial On Carotid Stenting in Patients With High Risk Vs Standard Risk for Open Carotid Endarterectomy(REAL)
Until the irruption of the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial
 (CREST), carotid stenting (CAS) has been mainly offered to those patients considered at "high
 risk" for open carotid endarterectomy (CEA) based on the available data from large randomized
 clinical trials. "High risk" has been defined as (1) patients with severe comorbidity (class
 III/IV congestive heart failure, class III/IV angina, coronary disease involving ≥ 2 major
 vessels, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 30%, myocardial infarction, severe pulmonary
 disease, severe renal failure) and (2) Technical/challenging anatomical criteria (previous
 neck surgery, cervical irradiation, contralateral carotid occlusion, post-endarterectomy
 restenosis, inaccessible lesions or tracheotomy). Several recent studies have called medical
 "high-risk" into question for CAS indication.

 The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and perioperative and long-term
 effectiveness in patients with significant carotid artery stenosis with "high-risk" criteria
 (for CEA) treated with carotid stenting and proximal protection device (MOMA®) compared to
 patients with standard-surgical-risk features.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Symptomatic patients who have a transient ischemic attack, amaurosis fugax, or minor
 nondisabling stroke in the distribution of the study artery within 180 days of
 inclusion and have been shown carotid artery stenosis ≥50% by angiography, ≥70% by
 ultrasound, or ≥70% by CT angiography or MR angiography if ultrasound is 50% to 69%

 -  Asymptomatic patients who have carotid artery stenosis of ≥60% by angiography, ≥70% by
 ultrasound, or ≥80% by CT angiography or MR angiography if ultrasound is 50% to 69%

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patient is unable to respond to external questions and stimuli and to exert a pressure
 with the contralateral hand

 -  Patient has an myocardial infarction within 72 hours prior to carotid stenting

 -  Patient has a major residual neurological deficit (stroke scales: Barthel ≤ 60, NIH ≥
 15 or Rankin >3) at pre-procedure neurological exam

 -  Patient had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or amaurosis fugax within 48 hours prior
 to index procedure

 -  Patient had a stroke or retinal artery occlusion within 1 month prior to index
 procedure

 -  Patient has severe chronic renal failure (creatinine > 2.5mg/dL)

 -  The target carotid artery is completely occluded

 -  The common carotid artery ostium has stenosis that required treatment

 -  The presence of ipsilateral intracranial stenosis that requires treatment

 -  The inability to position a stiff 0.035" guidewire in the external carotid artery

 -  Contralateral occlusion of internal carotid artery and vertebral arteries