Endovascular recanalization in vertebral artery stump syndrome: a single-center experience

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the feasibility, success rate, and safety of endovascular revascularization of patients with vertebral artery stump syndrome (VASS). Methods This single-center retrospective study analyzed clinical and imaging data from consecutive patients with VASS who underwent endovascular recanalization from January 2020 until June 2023. Results Our study enrolled 30 patients [mean age 69 (range 51–84) years; 26 men]. The rate of successful technical revascularization was 96.7% (n = 29), and the rate of complications was 3.3% (n = 1). At the 6-month follow-up, the patients with successful endovascular revascularization of VASS did not have any neurological symptoms, and computed tomography angiography showed 3/29 (10.3%) re-occlusions and 4/29 (13.8%) restenosis of the stent, which was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. Conclusions Endovascular recanalization in patients with VASS is feasible and has a high procedural success rate and low rate of complications. A large, multicenter, randomized study is warranted to confirm these findings.