Endovascular Techniques for Stroke Prevention

The endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment alternative to surgical management. Technologic advances in coil design, stents, and liquid embolic agents may revolutionize such treatment. Cerebral arteriovenous malformation obliteration rates have increased with the advent of newer embolic agents and devices but complications exist, related to the angioarchitecture of the arteriovenous malformations, the types of agents used, and operator experience. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach with combination therapy should be used. As for understanding the natural history of intracranial atherosclerosis disease, it is to be hoped that the results of recently launched and future randomized clinical trials will clarify the role of intracranial percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting.