We evaluated peri-operative and 30 days post-operative efficacy of endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis performed with percutaneous angioplasty and stenting. From June 1996 to October 2002 we performed 156 endovascular treatments of carotid artery stenosis in 150 symptomatic patients with ages ranging from 40 to 87. We treated with angioplasty and stent 110 patients with primitive carotid plaque (70.5%) and 44 patients with non-atherosclerotic lesion: 34 were post-surgical restenosis (21.7%) of the carotid bifurcation after carotid endarterectomy, 6 post-actinic stenosis, 2 carotid stenosis in Takayasu disease and 2 post-stent restenosis. Twelve patients were treated before cardio-surgical intervention and 8 were stroke patients performed in acute phase. Angioplasty alone was done in 11 cases (7.1%) while stent placement was performed in 145 cases (92.9%). In 71 patients (50%) the endovascular treatment was performed during distal cerebral protection. We achieved the dilatation of the stenotic tract in all the patients with residual stenosis less than 30% in 98% of cases. Two permanent neurological deficits (1.28%) and 4 transient neurological deficit (3.2%) were observed. One patient died 20 days after the procedure because of cardio-surgical complications. Fifteen patients (9.6%) complained a transient orthostatic hypotension. No new clinical complication was observed during 30 days follow-up. Our results with the endovascular treatment of the carotid stenosis appear not significantly different from recent literature data and main surgical publications and trails about the carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients. Our complication rate is similar to surgery, probably because of our patient selection and to the evolution of the materials for endovascular therapy. Our results underline the efficacy and safety of the endovascular technique with possible extension of its indications to primitive stenosis in selected cases and in the treatment of acute stroke.