BACKGROUND: The optimal management of the patients requiring cardiac surgery with concomitant severe carotid disease remains a controversy. The traditional approach involves staged or combined carotid endarterectomy and cardiac surgery. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of angioplasty and stenting for the treatment of carotid stenoses concomitantly to cardiac operations to reduce the risk of perioperative stroke.METHODS: All patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were screened preoperatively by color duplex ultrasonography for carotid disease. Carotid stenoses ≥60% in symptomatic patients and ≥70% in asymptomatic patients were treated using carotid artery stenting (CAS) under local anesthesia immediately before the open heart surgery. Cerebral protection devices were used in all cases. Patients did not receive aspirin or clopidogrel before the procedure. In a prospective, nonrandomized study, we analyzed 90 consecutive patients requiring cardiac surgery with concomitant severe carotid artery disease who underwent one stage CAS and cardiac surgery.RESULTS: Despite the high baseline risk profile, our results were encouraging. Carotid stenting was successful in all patients. No neurologic complications occurred during the carotid stenting procedures. The 30-day death/stroke rate was 2.2% (one death, one contralateral stroke). No myocardial infarction occurred. The carotid restenosis rate was zero during the intermediate-term follow-up.CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, CAS followed immediately by cardiac surgery is safe and represents a reasonable option for selected patients presenting with severe carotid and coronary disease.