Posterior circulation revascularization to manage vertebrobasilar occlusion

Abstract

Objective To discuss the technique and effect of posterior circulation revascularization to manage vertebrobasilar occlusion. Methods Nine patients with vertebrobasilar occlusion were treated by using occipital artery ⁃ posterior inferior cerebellar artery bypass, superficial temporal artery ⁃ superior cerebellar artery bypass, superficial temporal artery⁃posterior cerebral artery bypass and occipital artery⁃ vertebral artery bypass with radial artery graft. Results Intraoperative indocyanine green angiography showed all the bypass arteries were patent. Postoperative DSA or CTA showed bypass arteries patent in 8 patients, among whom seven patients got obvious improvement on MR or CT perfusion. One patient died of heart failure on the 15th day postoperative. During the follow⁃up of eight patients, no stroke reoccurred, four patients got back to nearly normal life. Conclusion Most of the patients with vertebrobasilar occlusion could benefit from the posterior circulation revascularization, which should be confirmed by randomized controlled clinical trials in the future.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.03.021