Information for the public

Benefits and risks

Benefits and risks

When NICE looked at the evidence, it decided that there was enough evidence about how well this procedure works and how safe it is. The 9 studies that NICE looked at involved a total of 794 patients.

They showed that compared with another procedure, which did not reverse blood flow, there were:

  • no strokes and 2 transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) compared with 1 stroke and 1 TIA

  • fewer new lesions in the brain because of poor blood supply; most lesions did not produce symptoms

  • improved blood flow in the brain.

The studies showed that there are some serious risks of transcervical extracorporeal reverse flow neuroprotection. These included:

  • tears in the inner lining of the carotid artery in 9 patients

  • slow heart rate with or without low blood pressure in 6 patients

  • death in 3 patients (2 from heart attacks, 1 from a lack of oxygen passing from the lungs into the blood)

  • spasm of the carotid artery in 13 patients, needing drug treatment

  • bleeding into the brain or neck in 4 patients

  • nerve injury in 3 patients

  • problems with the catheter and stent insertion in 3 patients, needing a different procedure to unblock the artery.

If you want to know more about the studies, see the guidance. Ask your health professional to explain anything you don't understand.

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