Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of midbasilar stenoses: three technical case reports and literature review.
OBJECTIVE
Symptomatic basilar artery stenosis is a highly morbid disease process. Recent technological and pharmaceutical advances make endovascular treatment of this disease process possible.


METHODS
We report three cases of patients with a symptomatic basilar artery stenosis despite anticoagulation.


METHODS
All patients were successfully treated with a flexible coronary stent and perioperative antiplatelet medications without incident. Poststenting angiography demonstrated a normal-caliber artery with patent perforators. In one case, a poststenting cerebral blood flow study revealed improved perfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
A new generation of stents and balloons makes access to intracranial intradural arterial pathological abnormalities possible. Such devices may well revolutionize the management of ischemic and hemorrhagic intracranial cerebrovascular disease.
Horowitz
M B
MB
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Pride
G L
GL
Graybeal
D F
DF
Purdy
P D
PD
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors