This new “Paladin” system for post-dilation during carotid artery stenting was safe and may effectively reduce the number of particles that reach the brain, with a subsequent decreased risk for peri-procedural stroke.

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Paladin System, a novel post-dilation balloon with an integrated distal protection filter designed to increase safety during one of the most critical procedural moments: post-stent dilation.

While the risk of major adverse events during stenting is equivalent to that during endarterectomy, the risk of minor stroke, much of which occurs during post-stent dilation, remains higher with carotid artery stenting.

This study enrolled a total of 106 patients in 5 centers in Germany; the primary endpoint was all-cause death, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke within 30 days from the procedure.

Read also: Effect of More Expedited Carotid Intervention on Recurrent Events.

Among cohort patients, 30 subjects were assessed through diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging before and after the procedure, in search for new lesions.

There was a retrospective analysis comparing outcomes with historical controls.

Procedural and device success rates were 100%. The combined event (death, infarction, and stroke) rates at discharge and at 30 days were 0% and 1%, respectively.

Read also: Safety of Early Carotid Artery Stenting in Symptomatic Patients.

The single adverse event was a stroke at day 12 that is believed to be unrelated to the device or the procedure.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging found new lesions in 36.7% of patients, and 30% of such lesions were ipsilateral.

Debris was present in all filters, and 90% of these particles were <100 μm.

Conclusion

The Paladin System for post-stent dilation with greater protection during carotid artery stenting is effective and may reduce the number of embolic particles, with a subsequent reduction in peri-procedural stroke.

Original title: Double Filtration During Carotid Artery Stenting Using a Novel Post-Dilation Balloon with Integrated Embolic Protection.

Reference: Ralf Langhoff et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2019;12:395-403.

We are interested in your opinion. Please, leave your comments, thoughts, questions, etc., below. They will be most welcome.