Wingspan Stenting for Severe Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis in 433 Patients Treated at a Single Medical Center.

PURPOSE

To investigate the safety and outcome of intracranial stenting for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (IAS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between July 2007 and April 2013, 433 consecutive patients with IAS > 70% underwent intracranial Wingspan stenting, and the data were prospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Intracranial stenting was successful in 429 patients (99.1%), and the mean stenosis rate was improved from prestenting (82.3 ± 7.6)% to poststenting (16.6 ± 6.6)%. During the 30-day perioperative period, 29 patients (6.7%) developed stroke. The total perioperative stroke rate was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the basilar artery area than in others, whereas the hemorrhagic stroke rate was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the middle cerebral artery area than in others. The experience accumulation stage (13%) had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher stroke rate than the technical maturation stage (4.8%). Clinical follow-up 6-69 months poststenting revealed ipsilateral stroke in 20 patients (5.5%). The one- and two-year cumulative stroke rates were 9.5% and 11.5%, respectively; the two-year cumulative stroke rate was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the experience accumulation stage (18.8%) than in the technical maturation stage (9.1%).

CONCLUSION

Wingspan stenting for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis is safe and the long-term stroke rate after stenting is low in a Chinese subpopulation.