Angioplasty and Stenting of Basilar Artery

Symptomatic basilar artery stenosis has a poor prognosis. Surgical bypasses are technically demanding and of no proven benefit. A new generation of intravascular stents that are flexible enough to navigate the tortuosities of the vertebral artery may provide a new therapeutic approach. We report two cases of vertebrobasilar ischemia with repeat vertigo and falls. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed severe middle basilar artery stenosis in case 1. A Transcranial Doppler (TCD) showed severe vertebrobasilar artery stenosis in the second case. The patients underwent uncomplicated angioplasty and stenting of the basilar arteries. The patients were well and free of symptoms after 12 months and 8 months follow up, respectively. The new flexible intravascular stents may provide a novel therapeutic approach for patients with basilar artery stenosis.