Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of supra-aortic arterial stenoses in patients with concomitant cerebrovascular and coronary artery diseases--report of two cases.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed on supra-aortic arterial stenoses in two patients with concomitant cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). One patient had suffered small cerebral infarctions in the left frontal and temporo-occipital regions, and the other a lacunar stroke in the left pontine region. The former had stenosis of the left internal carotid artery as well as severe triple-vessel CAD. The latter had stenosis of the left subclavian artery as well as severe single-vessel CAD of the left circumflex artery. The PTA procedure successfully dilated the cervical arterial stenosis in both patients, while no cardiac complications occurred. In patients with concomitant CAD and CVD, PTA may be safer than endarterectomy or bypass grafts for supraaortic arterial stenoses.