CAS is an alternative to CEA for treating carotid stenosis with a similar efficacy in preventing future stroke. High-intensity signal in the plaque on the TOF-MRA is associated to a high risk of cerebral embolism during stenting. The evidence of protection selection in such patients was limited. A single center, prospective, outcome- assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial study (CASH-ES) is designed to compare the efficiency of two distal embolism protection devices (SpiderFX and Emboshield NAV6) during CAS procedure of patients with vulnerable plaque. Asymptomatic patients with internal carotid artery stenosis ≥ 70% (NASCET) and symptomatic patients with a stenosis ≥ 50% who is over 70 years old, diagnostic of vulnerable plaque on ultrasound or have a high-intensity signal in the relevant plaques on TOF-MRA will be included. Patients are randomized in two balanced groups (1:1) to receive CAS with either distal (Spider FX) or distal (Emboshield NAV6) protection. The primary endpoint is the incidence of new cerebral ipsilateral ischemic lesions on the DW-MRI within 7-days post operation. Secondary endpoints include the number, size, location of new cerebral ischemic lesions on the DW-MRI, the counts of MES during TCCD monitoring during procedure, procedural complications, stroke, myocardial infarction, and death within 7 days.
A single center, prospective, outcome-assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial study (CASH-ES) is designed to compare the efficiency of two different distal embolism protection devices (SpiderFX and Emboshield NAV6) in during CAS procedure of patients with vulnerable plaque.