Balloon angioplasty and endoluminal stenting of clinically significant human carotid artery occlusive lesions: A new model for ex vivo morphological analysis

The successful use of balloon angioplasty and intravascular stenting for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary and peripheral arteries has recently led to the application of these techniques to the management of carotid artery stenosis. We have, therefore, attempted to determine the local consequences of these interventions in the carotid circulation by developing an ex vivo model of simultaneous balloon angioplasty and endoluminal stenting of clinically significant human internal carotid artery occlusive lesions. The following report describes this model and discusses the related clinical issues.