Abstract
INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety and outcomes of endovascular recanalization for symptomatic intracranial chronic total occlusions of internal carotid and vertebro‐basilar arteries. MATERIALS/METHODS: Six patients across 4 different hospitals with symptomatic intracranial (anterior as well as posterior circulation) chronic total occlusion who failed on medical therapy underwent endovascular recanalization and were included in this retrospective study. Patient demographics, risk factors, angiographic data, procedural details and radiological and clinical outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Recanalization was successful in 6/6 cases (100%). 4 cases were in posterior circulation and 2 cases were anterior. All patients had recurrent disabling stroke symptoms despite dual anti platelets and had diabetes and hypertension. There were no periprocedural complications. One patient had subacute stent thrombosis 4 days after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Initial experience of recanalization for intracranial CTO shows that endovascular approach is both feasible and safe in carefully selected cases. Larger studies are required to confirm the findings. [Image: see text] [Image: see text]