Clinical analysis of submaximal balloon dilatation combined with Enterprise stent in treatment of complex symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis

Abstract

Objective To observe the safety and efficacy of submaximal balloon dilation combined with Enterprise stent in the treatment of complex symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Methods Clinical data of 70 patients with complicated symptomatic ICAS treated in our hospital from February 2015 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, and any stroke (cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack [TIA] or cerebral hemorrhage), or death within 30 days were observed, as well as the recurrence of ischemic events and stent restenosis in the vascular supply area after 30 d of follow-up. Results Among the 70 patients, the success rate of operation was 100%; the preoperative stenosis rate was (81.4±10.2)% and the postoperative stenosis rate was (18.3±6.4)%, with significant difference (P<0.05). Perioperative complications occurred in 4 patients (5.7%): two were subacute thrombosis in stent two d after operation; one had cerebral hemorrhage 10 h after operation, and one had perforator artery occlusion leading to pontine infarction. Nine patients (14.5%) had restenosis in stent during the follow-up period; symptomatic restenosis occurred in 3 (4.8%). Conclusion It is safe and effective to treat complex symptomatic ICAS with submaximal balloon dilatation combined with Enterprise stent, which can obviously decrease the incidences of postoperative complications and recent in-stent restenosis. Key words: Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis; Endovascular therapy; Submaximal balloon dilatation; Enterprise stent