A stent used for preventing strokes is said to be as safe and almost as effective as surgery, US researchers said.
According to researchers, the new device, which uses angioplasty and stents, has been approved for use in higher-risk patients.
A study was conducted on 2,502 patients with or without a previous history of strokes, comparing the safety and effectiveness of surgery versus stenting.
The nine-year trial, dubbed the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs Stenting Trial or CREST trial showed that both approaches were safe and overall effective at preventing strokes, but some differences were found between the two approaches.
Researchers found that patients who had surgery had lower rates of subsequent strokes, while those who received stents were less likely to have a heart attack after the procedure, reports Reuters.
Those aged 69 or younger appeared to fare slightly better if they received a stent, while those over 70 fared better with the surgical treatment, researchers said.
Surgery has proven to be safest for stroke prevention alone, the research team said.
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