RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Use of Balloon-Expandable Stents in the Management of Intracranial Arterial Diseases: A 5-Year Single-Center Experience JF American Journal of Neuroradiology JO Am. J. Neuroradiol. FD American Society of Neuroradiology SP 2342 OP 2348 VO 26 IS 9 A1 Kessler, Iruena Moraes A1 Mounayer, Charbel A1 Piotin, Michel A1 Spelle, Laurent A1 Vanzin, Jose Ricardo A1 Moret, Jacques YR 2005 UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/26/9/2342.abstract AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although stent-assisted intracranial procedures are becoming a routine clinical practice, there have been relatively few large studies published in the literature regarding the application of the balloon-expandable stent technology in the treatment of intracranial arterial diseases. In this report, the authors reviewed their experience with 75 cases at a single center.METHODS: From 1998 to 2003, 75 patients underwent percutaneous transluminal intracranial stent placement as a treatment for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms and atherosclerotic stenoses. The anatomy of the target lesions, technical details of the procedures, device functionality, procedure-related complications, and short-term outcomes were reviewed in a retrospective fashion.RESULTS: The clinical indications included wide-necked intracranial aneurysms (59) and atherosclerotic stenoses (16). The stent was successfully deployed in 92% of the patients (69 of 75 cases). In the remaining 6 cases, the causes of failed stent deployment included arterial tortuosities (2), stent migration (2), fracture of the stent (1), and arterial perforation (1). The short-term outcome (mean follow-up, 7.5 months; range, 3–12 months) was evaluated by using the modified Rankin scale (MR spectroscopy 0–6). Fifty-three patients (70.6%) had excellent outcomes (MR spectroscopy 0–1), 12 (16%) had good outcomes (MR spectroscopy 2), and 5 (6.7%) had poor outcomes (MR spectroscopy 4–5). Five patients (6.7%) died.CONCLUSION: The use of BES is associated with a high rate of hemorrhagic and ischemic complications, more specifically when used in the anterior circulation. Cases of large-necked aneurysms not treatable with balloon remodeling technique and atheromatous sclerosis could be eligible for this treatment.