Angioplastia y stent en la estenosis severa de arteria basilar refractaria al tratamiento farmacológico

Stenoses in the posterior cerebral circulation often have a bad prognosis. There may be a high rate of morbi-mortality and recurrences of ischemic events in this territory. Currently we have no evidence or consensus about what the best pharmacological option is for these patients. We report a case of a 75 year old woman with sever stenosis of the proximal part of the basilar artery with recurrent transient ischemic events unresponsive to different combinations of antiagregant and anticoagulant treatments. A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with the addition of a stent in the basilar artery was performed successfully. At present, there are few studies and a low number of patients treated by this technique. The results obtained are promising, with a low rate of morbi-mortality, the most frequent complications being embolization of the atherosclerotic lesion, dissection, rupture or restenosis.