BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to assess the long-term outcome and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenoses. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with fixed symptomatic intracranial stenoses were treated over a 5-year period with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Patients who underwent successful angioplasty were followed up for 16 to 74 months (mean, 35.4 months). RESULTS: An angioplasty that resulted in decreased stenosis was performed in 21 of 23 patients (91.3%). In 1 case a stenosis could not be safely crossed, and in another balloon dilatation resulted in vessel rupture. This vessel rupture resulted in the 1 periprocedural death in the series. In follow-up there was 1 stroke in the same vascular territory as the angioplasty and 2 strokes in the series overall. This yielded an annual stroke rate of 3.2% for strokes in the territory appropriate to the site of angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial angioplasty can be performed with a high degree of technical success. The long-term clinical follow-up available in this series suggests that it may reduce the risk of future stroke in patients with symptomatic intracranial stenoses.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to assess the long-term outcome and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenoses. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with fixed symptomatic intracranial stenoses were treated over a 5-year period with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Patients who underwent successful angioplasty were followed up for 16 to 74 months (mean, 35.4 months). RESULTS: An angioplasty that resulted in decreased stenosis was performed in 21 of 23 patients (91.3%). In 1 case a stenosis could not be safely crossed, and in another balloon dilatation resulted in vessel rupture. This vessel rupture resulted in the 1 periprocedural death in the series. In follow-up there was 1 stroke in the same vascular territory as the angioplasty and 2 strokes in the series overall. This yielded an annual stroke rate of 3.2% for strokes in the territory appropriate to the site of angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial angioplasty can be performed with a high degree of technical success. The long-term clinical follow-up available in this series suggests that it may reduce the risk of future stroke in patients with symptomatic intracranial stenoses.
Authors: John J Connors; David Sacks; Anthony J Furlan; Warren R Selman; Eric J Russell; Philip E Stieg; Mark N Hadley Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2004 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Randall T Higashida; Philip M Meyers; John J Connors; David Sacks; Charles M Strother; John D Barr; Joan C Wojak; Gary R Duckwiler Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Jawad F Kirmani; Nazli Janjua; Ammar Al Kawi; Shafiuddin Ahmed; Ismail Khatri; Ali Ebrahimi; Afshin A Divani; Adnan I Qureshi Journal: NeuroRx Date: 2005-04