[Experience with transluminal stent-assisted angioplasty for intracranial vascular diseases].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of stent-assistant angioplasty for intracranial vascular diseases.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with intracranial vascular diseases were treated consecutively by stent-assistant angioplasty for different purposes. Of these patients 7 had symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis, 3 intracranial wide-neck aneurysms, 2 intracranial pseudoaneurysms, and 1 bilateral transverse sinus stenosis. Clinical procedures and technical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
In the 7 patients, the degree of intracranial artery stenosis reduced from 83% to 5%. Three months after the operation they exhibited good patency of stented lesions. Intracranial wide neck aneurysms (with 2 pseudoaneurysms) were successfully embolized with GDC in 5 patients. The patients with bilateral transverse sinus stenosis were implanted a self-expanded stent in the right transverse sinus. One patient failed because of the tortuous configuration of the left jugular bulb, but the patient's symptoms were improved quickly after the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Stent-assistant angioplasty is a useful technique for selected intracranial vascular diseases, and it needs further investigation.
Miu
Zhongrong
Z
Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
Ling
Feng
F
Li
Shenmao
S
Zhu
Fengshui
F
Wang
Moli
M
Zhang
Hongqi
H
Hua
Yang
Y
Song
Qingbin
Q
D000328:Adult; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome