Stenting for abrupt closure of the intracranial vertebral artery complicating balloon angioplasty. A case report.

SUMMARY: We report a case of stenting for abrupt closure of the intracranial vertebral artery complicating balloon angioplasty. A 58-year-old man with symptomatic restenosis of the intracranial vertebral artery underwent balloon angioplasty, which was complicated by acute occlusion due to wall dissection. The acute occlusion of the lesion was completely recanalized by implanting a balloon-expandable stent designed for the coronary artery. Follow-up angiography 15 months after stenting did not show severe restenosis and the patient's symptoms disappeared after stenting. This therapeutic option may be useful as a means to bail out from acute occlusion of the intracranial artery caused by endovascular procedures.