ROADSTER
(2015)Objective
Transcarotid carotid artery stenting with dynamic flow reversal in high-risk patients.
Study Summary
Intervention
ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System providing direct surgical common carotid access and cerebral embolic protection via high-rate flow reversal during carotid artery stenting vs. standard medical care.
Inclusion Criteria
High-risk patients with asymptomatic stenosis ≥70% or symptomatic stenosis ≥50%, physiologic or anatomic contraindications to CEA.
Study Design
Arms: Transcarotid Stenting with Flow Reversal vs. Historical Controls
Patients per Arm: 141 patients in the pivotal cohort (208 total including lead-in)
Outcome
Bottom Line
Transcarotid carotid artery stenting with dynamic flow reversal using the ENROUTE system is safe and effective in high-risk patients, achieving the lowest stroke rate (1.4%) reported for any prospective multicenter CAS trial.
Major Points
- ROADSTER was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter trial evaluating transcarotid CAS with flow reversal
- 208 patients enrolled at 18 sites; 141 in pivotal cohort, 67 in lead-in phase
- 26% were symptomatic, 75% were asymptomatic patients at high risk for CEA
- Primary endpoint (stroke, death, MI at 30 days) occurred in 3.5% (5/141 patients)
- Stroke rate was 1.4% (2/141) - lowest reported for any prospective CAS trial
- Stroke and death rate was 2.8% (4/141)
- Technical and device success rates were 99%
- One cranial nerve injury (0.7%) with complete resolution at 6 months
- Mean procedure time was 73.6 minutes
- Flow reversal technique avoids aortic arch manipulation
Study Design
- Study Type
- Prospective, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial
- Randomization
- No
- Blinding
- Open-label design, no blinding described
- Sample Size
- 141
- Follow-up
- 30 days primary, extended follow-up for complications
- Centers
- 18
- Countries
- United States, Spain
Primary Outcome
Definition: Composite of all stroke, myocardial infarction, and death at 30 days
| Control | Intervention | HR/OR | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5% (5/141) | - (1.16-8.08) | 0.0047 |
Limitations & Criticisms
- Single-arm design without randomized control group
- Comparison to historical controls from other studies
- Relatively small sample size for rare event analysis
- Limited follow-up duration (30 days primary endpoint)
- Learning curve effects possible given lead-in phase design
- Potential selection bias in high-risk patient population
Citation
J Vasc Surg 2015;62:1227-35