Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic vertebral arterial stenosis

From April 2006 through June 2008, the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) was performed in 14 patients with symptomatic vertebral arterial stenosis. The successful rate of stent implantation was 100% without any serious complication. Fourteen patients underwent PTAS with a mean preprocedural vertebrobasilar stenosis of 71.3%. The residual stenosis was less than 10%. Over a mean 6-month follow-up in 9 patients, the Malek' s scale 1 was observed in 7 patients, the scale 2 in 2 patients and no restenosis was found in 3 patients according to cerebral angiography. Preliminary results show that PTAS in the management of the vertebrobasilar arterial stenosis is a safe and effective method. Key words: Vertebrobasilar insufficiency;  Therapy