Pathways to Protection: Navigating the Future of Intracranial Stenting

22 February 2024

Neuro interventionalists use intracranial stenting to treat certain types of cerebrovascular diseases, such as intracranial atherosclerosis and intracranial stenosis. This blog aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Intracranial Stenting in Neuro Intervention, including its purpose, procedure, risks, and benefits.

What is Intracranial Stenting?

During intracranial stenting, healthcare providers place a small metal mesh tube (stent) in a narrowed or blocked artery in the brain to improve blood flow The stent helps to keep the artery open and prevent further narrowing or blockage, reducing the risk of stroke and other complications.

Purpose of Intracranial Stenting

The primary goal of intracranial stenting is to restore and maintain adequate blood flow to the brain. Doctors typically perform this procedure in cases where an artery is significantly narrowed or blocked, which can lead to decreased blood flow and an increased risk of stroke.”

Procedure

Preparation: Before the procedure, the patient will undergo imaging tests, such as angiography, to map the location and extent of the blockage.

Anesthesia: The physician usually performs the procedure under local anesthesia, keeping the patient awake but not feeling any pain. In some cases, sedation may be administered to help the patient relax.

Catheterization: Someone makes a small incision in the groin, inserts a catheter into an artery, and guides it to the site of the blockage in the brain using real-time imaging guidance.

Stent Placement: Once the catheter is in place, the interventionalist carefully inserts and positions the stent in the narrowed or blocked artery. The stent is then expanded using a balloon to push the plaque against the artery wall and restore blood flow.

Monitoring: Throughout the procedure, the neuro interventional radiologist will monitor the progress of the stent placement using imaging techniques to ensure it is in the correct position and has opened the artery sufficiently.

Closure: After placing the stent, the healthcare provider removes the catheter and closes the incision site with stitches or a special closure device.

Risks and Complications

Intracranial stenting is generally considered safe, but like any medical procedure, it carries some risks, including:

Bleeding: There is a risk of bleeding at the catheter insertion site.

Stroke: In rare cases, the stent or the procedure itself can cause a stroke.

Infection: There is a small risk of infection at the catheter insertion site.

Allergic reaction: Some patients may have an allergic reaction to the stent material.

Benefits of Intracranial Stenting

Intracranial stenting can provide several benefits for patients with cerebrovascular diseases, including:

Improved blood flow: By opening up narrowed or blocked arteries, intracranial stenting can help improve blood flow to the brain, reducing the risk of stroke.

Reduced symptoms:Stenting can relieve symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and difficulty speaking that are caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.

Prevention of complications: Stenting can help prevent complications such as stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with intracranial stenosis.

Conclusion

Doctors consider intracranial stenting a valuable treatment option for patients with cerebrovascular diseases caused by narrowed or blocked arteries in the brain. By restoring and maintaining adequate blood flow to the brain, intracranial stenting can help reduce the risk of stroke and other complications, improving the quality of life for many patients. If you or a loved one are diagnosed with a cerebrovascular disease, discussing all treatment options with a healthcare provider is important to determine the best course of action.

Our Doctors

Dedicated IR Center for Vascular Problems in Madhya Pradesh

DR. SHAILESH GUPTA
MD, PDCC (INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY) Consultant & Co-Director CVIC (Center Of Vascular & Interventional Care)

DR. ALOK KUMAR UDIYA
MD Radiology, PDCC (Neurointervention Radiology), PDCC ( HPB Intervention Radiology) FINR (Switzerland) & EBIR
Endovascular Surgeon & Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist at Care CHL Hospital, Indore Co-director CVIC( center for vascular and interventional care)https://interventionradiologyindore.com/

DR. NISHANT BHARGAVA
Consultant Intervention Radiologist
MD Radiology, PDCC ( Neurointervention Radiology), FINR ( Fellowship in Neurointervention Radiology)
Co-director CVIC(Center for Vascular and Interventional Care)