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Recurrent abrupt occlusion after transluminal angioplasty for basilar artery stenosis: case report
1Servicio de Neurocirugia, Hospital Universitario San Vincente de Paul, Medellín, Columbia.
Objective And Importance:
Angioplasty for basilar artery stenosis is often complicated by recurrent abrupt vessel closure. The clinical results can be catastrophic. In this case report, we assess the effects of intra-arterial papaverine (American Regent Laboratories Inc., Shirley, NJ) on rebound occlusion.
Clinical Presentation:
The patient presented with crescendo transient ischemic attacks from atherosclerotic narrowing of the midbasilar artery despite maximal medical treatment.
Intervention:
Angioplasty of the midbasilar artery was performed with serial balloon inflations. The patient was treated successfully with intra-arterial papaverine and achieved a nearly full recovery, with only mild dysarthria, by the time of the 7-month follow-up examination.
Conclusion:
Using intra-arterial papaverine, we were able to reverse the effects of this potentially life-threatening complication of basilar artery angioplasty.