AUTHOR=Chu Xi , Meng Yao , Zhang Jun , Sun Lili , Yin Hao , Dong Kaiyue , Chen Yingkun , Song Yun , Zheng Meimei , Wang Wei , Zhao Wei , Han Ju 

TITLE=Safety and efficacy of endovascular recanalization for symptomatic non-acute atherosclerotic intracranial large artery occlusion

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1144622

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1144622

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background and objective: The optimal treatment for patients with symptomatic non-acute atherosclerotic intracranial large artery occlusion (ILAO) despite medical treatment is not well established. We aimed to assess the safety, efficacy and feasibility of angioplasty and stenting for these patients.
Methods: 251 consecutive patients with symptomatic non-acute atherosclerotic ILAO treated with interventional recanalization were retrospectively collected in our center from March 2015 to August 2021. The rate of successful recanalization, perioperative complications and follow-up outcomes were evaluated. 
Results: Successful recanalization was achieved in 88.4% (222/251) of the patients. 24 (24/251, 9.6%) symptomatic complications occurred among 251 procedures. In the 193 patients with clinical follow-up during 19.0 ± 14.7 months, 11 (11/193, 5.7%) patients developed ischemic stroke and 4 (4/193, 2.1%) patients developed transient ischemic attack (TIA). In the 106 patients with vascular imaging follow-up duing 6.8 ± 6.6 months, 7 (7/106, 6.6%) patients had restenosis and 10 (10/106, 9.4%) patients had reocclusion. 
Conclusion: This study suggests that interventional recanalization may be a feasible, with basically safe and effective alternative in carefully selected patients with symptomatic non-acute atherosclerotic ILAO who have failed medical management.