Vertebral artery stenting using distal emboli protection and transcranial Doppler

• Published in: Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 12 - 15
• Main Authors: Mintz, Edward P., Gruberg, Luis, Kouperberg, Efim, Beyar, Rafael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Blood Flow Velocity; carotid artery; cerebrovascular accident; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Embolism - diagnostic imaging; Embolism - etiology; Embolism - prevention & control; filter device; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Stents; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; Vertebral Artery - diagnostic imaging; vertebrobasilar; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency - therapy
• ISSN: 1522-1946; 1522-726X
• DOI: 10.1002/ccd.10710

Recent studies have shown the feasibility and safety of the percutaneous approach for the treatment of vertebrobasilar disease using either balloon angioplasty alone, coronary stents, or combined angioplasty followed by stenting. The major concern in performing percutaneous procedures for the treatment of obstructive disease of the vertebrobasilar circulation involves the risk of embolic phenomena. We describe the successful treatment of a symptomatic patient with bilateral vertebrobasilar disease utilizing a distal protection filter during stenting with simultaneous use of transcranial Doppler to measure microembolization and vertebral artery blood flow during the procedure. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;61:12–15. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.