Evaluation of Balloon Guide Catheter as Proximal Protection During Carotid Artery Stenting (EMBO-PROTECT)

Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is an effective treatment for carotid artery stenosis but carries a risk of cerebral embolization. This prospective randomized study evaluates the safety and efficacy of proximal embolic protection using a balloon guide catheter during CAS by comparing the incidence of diffusion-weighted MRI-detected microembolisms and symptomatic thromboembolic events between protected and unprotected procedures.

NCT Number	NCT07576790
Lead Sponsor	Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla
Conditions	Carotid Artery Stenosis (Symptomatic and Asymptomatic)
Enrollment	126 participants
Start Date	2026-07-01
Primary Completion	2027-07-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-12-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-08