A method of providing embolic protection for carotid stenting includes advancing an arterial sheath into a patient's arterial system and advancing a venous sheath into the patient's venous system. A fluid connection may be established between the venous sheath and the arterial sheath that enables retrograde blood flow through the arterial sheath. The arterial sheath may be advanced through the vasculature and into the patient's carotid artery, and an inflatable balloon may be inflated within the patient's carotid artery in order to occlude antegrade blood flow therethrough. An interventional tool may be advanced through the inner lumen of the arterial sheath, the interventional tool dimensioned such that a portion of the cross-sectional area of an inner lumen of the arterial sheath remains open for retrograde blood flow.