Indirect Reperfusion in the Setting of Symptomatic Carotid Occlusion by Treatment of Bilateral Vertebral Artery Origin Stenoses

Restenosis after stenting in symptomatic vertebral arterial orifice disease and considerations for better outcome

We have performed stenting in 11 patients with symptomatic vertebral arterial orifice stenosis refractory to medical treatment or impairment in anterior circulation. Three of the 11 patients experienced asymptomatic severe in-stent restenosis or occlusion. Bare metal stents were used in those three patients, two of whom received revascularization therapy. Development of sufficient cervical collateral channels reconstituting the distal vertebral artery was the common feature in patients with asymptomatic in-stent restenosis. In selecting appropriate stents, consideration of mechanical strength and drug-eluting properties of a stent according to characteristics of the target vessel is important to reduce the risk of in-stent restenosis. Any decision to perform revascularization should be based on the presence of abundant cervical collaterals as well as clinical symptoms of vertebrobasilar ischemia.

Endovascular treatment of bilateral carotid artery occlusion with concurrent basilar apex aneurysm: a case report and literature review

We report a case of successful endovascular treatment of bilateral carotid artery occlusion with concurrent basilar apex aneurysm. An elderly female patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) onset was admitted to the hospital. Computed tomography (CT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) confirmed the presence of bilateral carotid artery occlusion with concurrent basilar apex aneurysm. Brain blood supply was provided by the bilateral vertebral artery through the basilar artery. We treated the aneurysm with the endovascular approach by embolizing the aneurysm with three coils. The patient recovered well after surgery and showed no recanalization of the aneurysm on a one-year follow-up DSA. We also reviewed six similar cases found with a PUBMED database search (1980-2010), including those with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. In conclusion, by using the endovascular approach, bilateral carotid artery occlusion with concurrent basilar apex aneurysm was efficiently treated.