title: Elective treatment of intracranial stenosis with the balloon-expandable Pharos Vitesse stent: 30-day stroke rate and complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analysis of procedural results and 30-day outcome after intracranial angioplasty and stenting (ICAS) with the balloon-expandable Pharos Vitesse stent system in carefully selected high-risk patients in two high-volume neurovascular centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  92 patients scheduled for elective ICAS using Pharos Vitesse between August, 2008 and August, 2011 were included. All patients showed high-grade intracranial stenosis and recurrent ischemic events despite best medical treatment at that time. The stroke rates and complications were divided into procedural and 30-day short-term events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful stent placement was achieved in all but one patient. Ischemic procedural complications occurred in three subjects. 30-Day complications and strokes were seen in four patients: two minor ischemic strokes, one fatal hemorrhage and one non-stroke-related death. Overall, strokes occurred in 6 out of 92 patients (6.5%, 95% CI 3.0% to 13.5%). The total stroke and death rate was 7.6% (95% CI 3.7% to 14.9%). No significant correlation with previously reported risk factors could be found, although a higher rate of ischemic strokes (four out of five) in the posterior circulation was recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with intracranial stenosis who experience recurrent ischemic events despite best medical treatment, ICAS, using the balloon-expandable Pharos Vitesse stent, may still be considered as an individual treatment option in high-volume neurovascular centers.
authors: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Klinikum Vest, Recklinghausen, Germany.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: von Schoenfeldt
authors: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Krützelmann
authors: Department of Neurology, Klinikum Vest, Recklinghausen, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Bußmeyer
authors: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Anastasios
authors: A
authors: Mpotsaris
authors: Department of Neurology, Albertinen Krankenhaus, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Rosenkranz
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Fiehler
authors: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Klinikum Vest, Recklinghausen, Germany.
authors: Werner
authors: W
authors: Weber
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Jan-Hendrik
authors: JH
authors: Buhk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020765:Intracranial Arterial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: balloon-expandable stent; intracranial stenosis; intracranial stenting; ischemic stroke