Basilar artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Technique and results

This is a retrospective study of 15 cases with symptomatic basilar artery atherosclerotic chronic stenosis. One patient presented with reversible ischemic neurological deficits and another with completed infarction, the rest of patients presented with progressive transient neurological deficits (TIA) that was refractory to medical treatment. The protocol of PTA included the use of single lumen balloon catheter (Stealth; Boston Scientific, Boston, MT) and the pre-balloon inflation injection of Urokinase (UK). All lesions were successfully dilated except for one. Those with uncomplicated successful dilatation had good control of their neurological status with disappearance of the pre-PTA TIA. The authors conclude that PTA for basilar artery atherosclerotic lesions is possible and a promising procedure when the patients are carefully selected and the operation is performed by a team with good experience in such lesions.