K. Niederkorn
Deprtment of Neurology, Section of Neurosonology, Medical University Graz – Graz, Austria

The following topics will be discussed:
• Diagnosis of stenosis and occlusion in the carotid system.
• Degree of Stenosis-NASCET and ECST grading systems and clinical implications.
• Carotid vessel wall pathology- plaque characterization.
• Vertebral artery pathology- steosisi, occlusion, collaterals.
• Follow-up ofter carotid and vertebral artery stenting.

I. Petrov, L. Grozdinski, I. Tasheva, B. Zehirov
Department of Cardiology and Angiology, City Clinic – Sofia, Bulgaria

Objective: Occluded and nearly occluded internal carotid arteries have lower risk of subsequent stroke, because antegrade flow no longer exists. Still, cervical ICA occlusion is associated with an annual risk of 6 to 20% of ipsilateral recurrent stroke. Extracranial-to-intracranial (EC-IC) artery bypass failed to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. Occlusion/ near occlusion of internal carotid arteries has long been definitive contraindication for endovascular treatment but several small series showed that endovascular recanalization and stenting of occluded and near occluded carotids is feasible. Data are still controversial. To analyze and present the results of percutaneous recanalization and stenting of total and subtotal carotid stenoses for a 10 years period.