Table 2 Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria for the SAPPHIRE Trial of Carotid Stent Placement
| Inclusion |
| Asymptomatic stenosis >80% or symptomatic stenosis >50% by angiography or ultrasonography and at least one of the following conditions that would result in high surgical risk: |
| Age >80 years |
| Congestive heart failure (class III/IV) and/or left ventricular ejection fraction <30% |
| Open heart surgery needed within 6 weeks |
| Recent myocardial infarction (>24 hours and <4 weeks) |
| Unstable angina (CCS class III/IV) |
| Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| Contralateral carotid occlusion |
| Contralateral laryngeal nerve palsy |
| Severe tandem lesions |
| Lesions distal or proximal to the usual location |
| Previous endarterectomy with restenosis |
| Previous radiation therapy or radical neck surgery |
| Exclusion |
| Acute ischemic neurologic event within past 48 hours |
| Total occlusion of the target carotid artery |
| Surgical or interventional procedure planned within the next 30 days |
| Common carotid ostial lesion |