A Prospective, Non-Randomized, Evaluation of Low-Risk Patients Undergoing Carotid Stenting With ANgiomax (Bivalirudin)

Exclusion Criteria

• •There is total occlusion of the target carotid artery treatment site.
• •The patient has an allergy or contraindication to aspirin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, bivalirudin, nickel, titanium, or a sensitivity to contrast media, which cannot adequately pre-medicated.
• •The subject has a platlet count\< 100,000 cells/mm3 or 700,000 cells/mm3 or a WBC of \< 3,000 cells/mm3.
• •Stroke within 7 days prior to the procedure
• •NIH stroke score \> or = to 15 within 7 days prior to the procedure
• •The patient has experienced a significant GI bleed within 6 months prior to study procedure
• •The patient has active internal bleeding
• •The patient has had major surgery or serious trauma within 6 weeks before enrollment
• •The patient has excessive peripheral vascular disease that precludes safe sheath insertion
• •The patient has had an intracranial hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke, major stroke or any stroke within one week of index procedure
• •The patient has concurrent emboligenic cardiovascular disease not adequately treated with anticoagulant therapy
• •The patient is on renal dialysis
• •The patient has had low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) administered within 8 hours or less, prior to the procedure
• •Severe hypertension not adequately controlled by antihypertensive therapy at the time of study entry(BP\> 180/110mmHG)
• •The patient is unable or unwilling to cooperate with the study follow-up procedures