Fig. 3.

Schematic illustration of treatment procedures during carotid artery stenting. A) After placement of the balloon guide catheter (BGC) and a 4-Fr catheter. B) The microguidewire (MG) is inserted deep into the external carotid artery (ECA), with the microballoon catheter (MBC) placed at the origin of the ECA alongside the MG. C) The ECA and common carotid artery are occluded with the BGC and MBC, forming a flow-reversed system. The MG is advanced across the stenotic lesion. D) The MG is exchanged for a filter protection (FP) device after angioplasty with the balloon catheter (BC). Predilation and postdilation with BC and placement of a carotid stent (CS) are performed. E) The MBC is deflated and removed first; then, the BGC is deflated. All procedures are completed.