Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of midbasilar stenoses: three technical case reports and literature review.

Abstract

Symptomatic basilar artery stenosis is a highly morbid disease process. Recent technological and pharmaceutical advances make endovascular treatment of this disease process possible. We report three cases of patients with a symptomatic basilar artery stenosis despite anticoagulation. 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. 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.