Original paper
Transradial approach for vertebral artery stenting

Introduction

Stroke remains a major cause of mortality and disability in adults. Approximately one quarter of ischaemic strokes are located in the posterior circulation [1, 2]. Atherosclerotic stenosis of the vertebral artery (VA) is a potential cause of vertebrobasilar ischaemia and may account for about 20% of posterior circulation strokes [3]. Ostium is the most frequent location of VA stenosis.
Vertebral artery stenting via transfemoral approach has been shown to be safe and effective in the periprocedural period as well as in long-term follow-up [4]. Transradial access recently received an IA recommendation as it was demonstrated to be the safest way to perform coronary territory interventions [5]. Moreover, it has been successfully applied also for carotid artery stenting [6, 7]. Thus, in patients with severe symptomatic VA stenosis with coexisting peripheral artery disease or unfavourable aortic arch/subclavian artery anatomy, transradial access might be a viable alternative to the transfemoral approach. Transradial coronary intervention experience may increase the chance for success in vertebral territory [8].

Aim

We report transradial VA angioplasty outcome in 15 patients with peripheral artery disease or unsuccessful attempt from femoral access.

Material and methods

Between Jan 2010 and Jul 2014, 15 patients with severe, symptomatic VA stenosis were included in study. Table I shows patient characteristics. All VA stenosis as well as aortic arch anatomy were demonstrated in computed tomographic angiography (Figure 1 A). Transfemoral access was not feasible due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) in 8 (53%) patients and due to severe subclavian artery tortuosity in 7 (47%) patients.
All patients underwent examination by the site neurologist. Chronic posterior circulation ischaemia (dizziness/unilateral limb weakness/dysarthria/blurred vision) were diagnosed in 15 (100%) patients, recurrent drop attacks in 3 (20%), and history of vertebrobasilar stroke/ transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in 2 (13%) patients.
All patients had been treated protractedly with aspirin (75 mg per day), and prior to the procedure they received a 300 mg loading dose of clopidogrel. After the VA angioplasty, the aspirin was maintained indefinitely, and 75 mg per day of clopidogrel was continued for 1 month for bare metal stent and 12 months for drug-eluting stent. On the procedure day, the ipsilateral radial artery was punctured and a 6 Fr short arterial sheath was introduced. Heparin was given to achieve an activated coagulation time of 250 to 300 s. Over 0.035 inch (0.889 mm) diagnostic wire Judkins Right 4.0/6 Fr guiding catheter was advanced toward VA ostium (Figures 1 B, 2 A). In all patients 0.014 inch (0.356 mm) coronary guidewire was positioned at the distal segment of the vertebral artery. In 1 patient with soft plaque proximal vertebral stenosis FilterWire EZ (Boston Scientific) distal embolic protection device was used to minimise the risk of distal embolisation (Figure 2 B).Direct stenting was performed when possible. Before and after stent deployment, the degree of stenosis was evaluated by quantitative angiography (Figures 1 C–D, 2 C–D). Clinical and duplex ultrasound (DUS) control follow-up were performed before discharge and 1, 12, and 24 months after VA angioplasty. Significant in-stent stenosis criteria were peak systolic velocity > 120 cm/s and/or end-diastolic velocity > 40 cm/s [9].

Results

Technical success defined as stent implantation with residual stenosis < 20%, no significant dissection, and TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 15 (100%) patients. In one patient asymptomatic stent edge dissection was observed and this did not require any additional intervention. In all cases VA angioplasty was performed with the use of a single balloon-mounted stent (9 bare metal stents, 6 drug-eluting stents). Direct stent implantation with 12–20 atm was performed in 9 (60%) cases. At ostial location, stents were post-dilated proximally with 12–22 atm. The mean NASCET VA stenosis was reduced from 85.3% to 5.3% (p < 0.001). Procedural data are summarised in Table II.
No periprocedural death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or transient ischaemic attack occurred. In 4 (26.6%) patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease, coronary angiography was performed. Three (20%) of these patients underwent successful percutaneous coronary angioplasty 2–4 weeks after VA stenting.
During follow-up (range: 3–57 months, mean: 28.1 months) in 12 of 15 patients chronic ischaemia symptoms release were observed; no new acute ischaemic neurological symptoms were diagnosed in all patients. One patient died 20 months after intervention from unknown causes. Follow-up DUS velocities remained stable in all patients (mean peak systolic velocity of 1.26 m/s (0.5–2.3 m/s); end-diastolic velocity of 0.33 m/s (0.13–0.6 m/s). Two cases of DUS-revealed in-stent stenosis were not confirmed by computed tomography (CT) angiography. There was one symptomatic VA in-stent stenosis 12 months after angioplasty, revealed by DUS. As CT confirmed only borderline (50%) in-stent stenosis, the patient was not qualified for intervention at that time.

Discussion

The transfemoral approach is commonly used for vertebral artery access [10]. However, aorto-iliac disease or unfavourable aortic arch/subclavian artery anatomy can make the procedure difficult or even impossible. Operators experienced in transradial access in coronary interventions may use it also for aortic arch arteries angioplasty, including VA stenting. In fact, those two procedural techniques do not differ much and require a similar set of devices and skills. Transfemoral access VA stenting usually did not involve the use of a neuroprotection device [4]. However, in selected cases it might be useful for preventing intracranial embolisation during procedures [11, 12]. In our series of cases, there was one high-risk patient after ischaemic stroke with soft-plaque VA stenosis in whom we decided to apply distal embolic protection FilterWire EZ (Boston Scientific) with good result. No macroscopic embolic material was found in the system basket.
The well-known benefits of radial access are fewer vascular access complications and less major bleeding events, when compared with the femoral approach especially in the older population and/or in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy – as in our series. Early mobilisation is another key advantage of the transradial technique, especially in older patients [13]. Duplex ultrasound plays an important role in the assessment of VA stenosis or in-stent stenosis; however, the demanding examination technique and interpretation may pose a serious problem for the operator. Therefore, VA DUS should be performed by experienced physicians. For example, tortuosity in the proximal part of VA or compensation of flow in case of contralateral VA occlusion may result in a significant increase in flow velocities. When in doubt, CT angiography may be the best tool for precise artery stenosis degree evaluation. Computed tomography angiography also demonstrates high accuracy for diagnosis of VA in-stent stenosis [14].

Conclusions

Our data shows that transradial VA stenting may be a very effective and safe procedure, and it may constitute an alternative to the femoral approach in patients with symptomatic VA stenosis. This refers especially to patients with PAD or with unfavourable aortic arch/subclavian artery anatomy.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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