Primary stenting for high-grade basilar artery stenosis

We report two patients with symptomatic high-grade stenosis of the basilar artery refractory to appropriate maximal medical therapy in whom endovascul ar stenting was performed successfully without preliminary balloon angiopla sty. Excellent angiographic results were achieved and there mere no procedu ral or periprocedural complications. The patients were asymptomatic and neu rologically intact at a mean clinical follow-up of 6.5 months. Primary sten ting of basilar artery stenosis may be an alternative to balloon angioplast y for patients with symptomatic lesions refractory to medical therapy or in whom anticoagulation is contraindicated.