Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Comprehensive Endovascular and Open Surgical Management of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
Published on: October 20, 2017
Therapeutic basilar artery occlusion for management of medically refractory basilar artery stenosis: case report
Michael Horowitz1, Tudor G Jovin, James M Gebel
1Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. horowitzmb@upmc.edu
Objective And Importance:
To describe a novel therapeutic approach (endovascular basilar artery occlusion) to a notoriously difficult-to-manage clinical condition (actively symptomatic high-grade basilar artery stenosis) on the basis of assessment of the patient-specific mechanism of disease.
Clinical Presentation:
An 81-year-old woman presented with recurrent episodes of brainstem ischemia refractory to aggressive medical therapy. Cerebral angiography revealed a high-grade proximal basilar artery stenosis. On the basis of clinical presentation and angiographic findings, the pathogenesis of this complex of symptoms was thought to be embolic rather than hemodynamic.
Intervention:
Endovascular coil occlusion of the basilar artery was used, with excellent outcome (cessation of ischemic symptoms and independent level of functioning at 1 yr).
Conclusion:
Successful endovascular management of intracranial occlusive disease requires understanding of the mechanism responsible for the patient's symptoms.
