Abstract
Objectives This study reported a single-center clinical trial of endovascular treatment for
symptomatic nonacute occlusion of the intracranial large artery (NA-ILAO). The aim
of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and clinical effect of simple
balloon dilatation and stent implantation.
Methods The patients diagnosed with symptomatic NA-ILAO were enrolled. A total of 40 cases
were included in this study. While recanalization failed in 4 patients, it was successful
in 36 patients, who were then divided into two groups for further analysis: balloon
dilatation group (n = 24) and stent implantation group (n = 12). The perioperative complications, clinical outcome, and follow-up results were
analyzed.
Results Perioperative complications in the stent implantation group were significantly higher
than those in the simple balloon dilatation group (p < 0.05). There were 21 and 10 cases of 90-day good clinical outcome (modified Rankin
scale [mRS] ≤ 2) in the balloon and stent groups, respectively (p = 0.518). All patients with successful recanalization underwent digital subtraction
angiography (DSA) or CT angiography (CTA) during an average follow-up of 14 months.
There were two cases of restenosis in the balloon dilatation group and one in the
stent implantation group (p = 1.000). There were two cases of re-occlusion in the stent group and none in the
balloon dilatation group (p < 0.001). Stroke recurred in two cases in the stent group and in one case in the
simple balloon dilatation group (p = 0.013).
Conclusion Endovascular recanalization is safe and feasible for patients with symptomatic NA-ILAO.
Compared with stent implantation, simple balloon dilation may be a better recanalization
method, but larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm it.
Keywords
nonacute intracranial large artery occlusion - endovascular recanalization - balloon
dilatation - stent implantation
