Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in patients with proximal vertebral artery stenosis.
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the proximal vertebral artery is an important cause of cerebrovascular ischemic events with a significant associated morbidity and mortality. Endovascular treatment has emerged as a promising tool of the therapeutic armamentarium, along with medical therapy and surgical reconstruction. Our objective was to systemically review the pertinent evidence on the endovascular management of proximal vertebral artery disease and perform an analysis of the published outcomes.


METHODS
A systematic review of the literature identified all studies reporting percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stenting, or both, for proximal vertebral artery stenosis. Web-based search engines were searched using the Medical Subject Headings terms "vertebral artery," "angioplasty," and "stents" in all possible combinations. Studies comprising a series of at least five patients were considered for analysis. Periprocedural transient ischemic attack and stroke and death from any cause ≤30 days of treatment were defined as the primary outcome end points.


RESULTS
One randomized controlled trial comparing angioplasty and stenting of the proximal vertebral artery and medical therapy was identified. No comparative studies of endovascular treatment and open surgical repair were found. Forty-two selected studies reported endovascular treatment (angioplasty or stenting, or both) of 1117 vertebral arteries in 1099 patients. The weighted mean technical success rate was 97% (range, 36%-100%). Periprocedural transient ischemic attack occurred in 17 patients (1.5%). The combined stroke and death rate was 1.1%. Recurrent symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency developed in 65 of 967 patients (8%) within a reported follow-up of 6 to 54 months. Restenosis developed in 183 of 789 patients (23%) who underwent follow-up imaging (range, 0%-58%). Reintervention for recurrent disease during follow-up occurred in 86 patients (9%; range, 0%-35%).


CONCLUSIONS
There is limited comparative evidence on the efficacy of medical, surgical, and endovascular treatment of proximal vertebral artery disease. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting has low periprocedural neurologic adverse events and mortality.
Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom. antoniou.ga@hotmail.com
George A
GA
Antoniou
David
D
Murray
George S
GS
Georgiadis
Stavros A
SA
Antoniou
Andrew
A
Schiro
Ferdinand
F
Serracino-Inglott
J Vincent
JV
Smyth
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*