Intravascular stent implantation in treating patients with symptomatic vertebral artery kinking

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of stent implantation in treating patients with symptomatic vertebral artery kinking. Methods Thirty-six patients with vertebral artery kinking confirmed by DSA and accorded with the stent implantation indications were chosen in our study; these patients were performed stent implantation. The stenosis and haemodynamics changes, and recent and postoperative complications were observed; Malek scale was adopted to evaluate the clinical efficacy during the 1-year follow-up. Results The success rate of stent implantation for patients with symptomatic vertebral artery kinking was 100%. The percentage of stenosis was significantly reduced from （76%±15%） to （8%±3%） after stenting （P〈0.05）; the mean flow velocity of kinking lesion was obviously decreased from （[45.4±22.3] cm/s） to （[31.8±15.1] cm/s, P〈0.05）; cerebellum hematoma was noted in I patient subcutaneous hematoma of puncture point in 2 and femoral artery pseudoaneurysms after the stenting in 1; all these complications did not cause serious consequences. Malek scale indicated that 31 patients got 1 point, 3 got 2 points, 1 got 3 points, 1 got 4 points and no one got 5 points; 31 patients were asymptomatic during the 1-year follow-up; no significant in-stent restenosis was found. Conclusion Symptomatic vertebral artery kinking can be treated safely and effectively with stent implantation. Key words: Vertebral artery;  Kinking;  Stent;  Angioplasty