Successful cerebral artery stent placement for total occlusion of the vertebrobasilar artery in a patient suffering from acute stroke

A 64-year-old man suffering from crescendo brainstem symptoms due to acute total occlusion of the vertebrobasilar artery was successfully treated by c erebral artery stent placement. The total occlusion of a long segment of th e vertobrobasilar artery was completely recanalized by implanting two flexi ble, balloon-expandable coronary stents. The patient's clinical outcome 30 days later was favorable. No complications occurred during or after the pro cedure. This therapeutic option may prove to be a useful means to revascula rize an acute total occlusion of the vertebrobasilar artery.