Intraarterial Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Vertebrobasilar Artery Occlusions in 5 Patients

Acute vertebrobasilar arterial occlusion results in severe neurological deficit or death. Since the outcome of such occlusion patients is poor, recanalization is often required; but may result in severe neurological complications. To clarify variables affecting recanalization and outcome in occlusion patients, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical and radiographical outcome in 5 such patients treated endovascularly by thrombolysis using urokinase (UK). We found that recanalization markedly reduced neurological deficit and that early recanalization was extremely effective. Since hemorrhagic complications were severe, we suggest that the amount of UK used be limited to less than 500, 000 IU.