Are stents safer than carotid end-arterectomies?

No: Current data suggests you should have an endarterectomy over stenting for carotid stenosis.

Tough question: Big debate about this topic. I have been placing carotid stents since 1999. In my opinion, if the operator is experienced, and chooses patients correctly, stents are as safe as endarterectomies. In high risk populations, stents may be safer.

Absolutely not.: There is quite a bit of debate on this very topic at the moment, but some conclusions have been drawn: 1) carotid stents are not worse (but not better) than carotid endarterectomy, 2) there appears to be a higher risk of stroke with carotid stenting in people older than 80 years as compared with endarterectomy, 3) stents reduce nerve injury when a repeat carotid endarterectomy is needed.