Treatment of symptomatic complex posterior circulation cerebral artery stenosis with balloon-mounted stents: technique feasibility and outcome.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to retrospectively analyze a series of patients with complex posterior circulation stenosis who underwent stent-assisted angioplasty to evaluate the feasibility of the procedure and summarize the experience with regard to complications.


METHODS
A total of 16 consecutive patients with 27 complex posterior circulation artery stenoses refractory to medical therapy were enrolled. Technical success rate, periprocedural complication, and long-term follow-up result were evaluated.


RESULTS
The study population included 16 patients with 27 lesions. A total of 36 stents were successfully implanted. The technical success rate was 100%, and the overall periprocedural complication rate was 12.5% (2/16). During a median of 25.5 months of follow-up, three patients presented recurrent transient ischemic attacks, which were confirmed had restenosis more than 50% by control angiography or transcranial Doppler.


CONCLUSIONS
Stent-assisted angioplasty is a feasible treatment method for complex posterior circulation artery stenosis. However, it appears to be associated with a relatively high periprocedural complication rate. Therefore, strict periprocedural management to reduce mortality and morbidity is needed.
Wang
Bin
B
Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Miao
Zhong-rong
ZR
Li
Gui-lin
GL
Hua
Yang
Y
Ji
Xun-min
XM
Jiao
Li-qun
LQ
Wang
Ren-zhi
RZ
Ling
Feng
F
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome