Direct PTA for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

We have performed direct PTA for 23 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Occlusion was identified at extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) in 6 patients, at extracranial vertebral artery (VA) in I, at intracranial ICA in 3, at middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 12, and at basilar artery (BA) in 1. Stenosis was identified at extracranial VA in 1 patient. In 4 of 6 patients of extracranial ICA, 1 of 1 patient of extracranial VA, 1 of 3 patients of intracranial ICA, 7 of 12 patients of MCA and 1 of 1 patient of BA, recanalization was observed. Fourteen of 22 occluded arteries (64%) were recanalized. The recanalization rate approximated that of local intraarterial fibrinolytic therapy. We have not experienced complications with this procedure. Direct PTA is promising and might be a novel recanalization technique.