Intracranial Stenting is an advanced endovascular procedure used to treat severe narrowing (stenosis) or blockage of the arteries within the brain. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to vital areas, and when narrowed due to atherosclerosis or recurrent strokes, the risk of brain damage, disability, or death increases sharply.
Intracranial atherosclerosis is a leading cause of recurrent strokes, particularly in South Asians, and often requires more than just medications. Stenting provides a long-term solution by opening the narrowed artery and placing a metal stent that ensures steady blood flow to the brain.
At CARE CHL Hospital, Indore, Dr. Alok K. Udiya offers safe and effective intracranial stenting using cutting-edge technology and imaging. His expertise in neurointervention allows precise treatment with minimal risk, offering hope to high-risk stroke patients who’ve failed medical therapy.
Key Benefits of the Treatment
Intracranial stenting offers major clinical benefits for stroke prevention and blood flow restoration:
- Stroke Prevention: Significantly lowers risk of future strokes in high-risk patients.
- Minimally Invasive: Performed via a pinhole access in the groin or wrist—no open brain surgery.
- Immediate Restoration of Blood Flow: Reduces neurological symptoms caused by restricted blood supply.
- Alternative to Surgery: For patients unfit for open cerebrovascular bypass surgery.
- Better Quality of Life: Reduces dependency and improves daily functioning after recurrent TIAs or minor strokes.
- High Success Rate in Skilled Hands: Especially when performed in specialized neuro-interventional centers.
How This Treatment Works
The procedure involves opening a severely narrowed brain artery and placing a tiny metallic stent inside to keep the vessel open permanently. It is guided by high-resolution imaging in a specialized neuroangiography suite.
1.
Diagnosis and Patient Selection
Patients are typically referred for stenting after:
- Experiencing multiple strokes or TIAs (mini-strokes)
- Showing 70–99% stenosis of a major intracranial artery
- Failing to respond to optimal medical therapy
Diagnostic tools include:
- DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography) – gold standard
- MRI/MRA or CT Angiography
- Clinical stroke scoring and neurological examination
2.
Pre-Procedure Preparation
- Dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + clopidogrel) is started a few days in advance.
- Basic investigations like kidney function, blood sugar, and cardiac evaluation are completed.
- Fasting for 6–8 hours is recommended.
3.
Stenting Procedure
- Under local or general anesthesia, a catheter is inserted into the femoral or radial artery.
- Guided under fluoroscopy, the catheter is navigated to the narrowed intracranial artery.
- The lesion is crossed with a micro-guidewire.
- A balloon angioplasty may be done to prepare the site.
- A self-expanding or balloon-mounted stent is deployed to open the blockage.
- Post-deployment imaging confirms the restoration of blood flow.
Total procedure time is usually 60–90 minutes.
4.
Post-Procedure Monitoring and Recovery
- Patients are observed in a neurological ICU for 24–48 hours.
- Discharge usually occurs within 2–3 days.
- Antiplatelet therapy is continued long-term.
- Follow-up imaging is done after 3–6 months to ensure stent patency.
Why Choose Dr. Alok K. Udiya for Intracranial Stenting?
Intracranial stenting requires supreme precision, advanced planning, and timely execution. At CARE CHL Hospital, Dr. Alok K. Udiya leads with unmatched expertise:
- Among the few interventional neuroradiologists in India trained in intracranial stent placement
- Uses biplane DSA technology for real-time 3D imaging
- Highly experienced in treating MCA, ICA, basilar, and vertebral artery stenosis
- Offers both Wingspan Stent System and balloon-mounted options
- In-depth understanding of stroke prevention algorithms and neurovascular anatomy
- Works closely with neurologists, rehab teams, and stroke specialists for comprehensive care
FAQs – Intracranial Stenting
Q1. Who needs intracranial stenting?
Patients with 70–99% blockage in brain arteries who have suffered recurrent strokes or TIAs despite medical management are the best candidates.
Q2. What are the common arteries treated?
Stents may be placed in the middle cerebral artery (MCA), intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA), vertebral artery, or basilar artery—depending on the blockage location.
Q3. Is this procedure risky?
When done by experienced specialists, the risks are low. Potential complications include:
- Bleeding at the puncture site
- Dissection or clot formation in the vessel
- Stroke during the procedure (rare)
- Stent re-narrowing (very rare with proper medication)
Q4. Will I be awake during the procedure?
In many cases, it is performed under local anesthesia with light sedation. Complex cases may require general anesthesia.
Q5. How long will the stent last?
The stent is permanent and does not need replacement. With proper medication and follow-up, it remains patent lifelong.
Q6. What lifestyle changes are needed after the procedure?
- Strict control of blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
- Lifelong antiplatelet medication
- No smoking or alcohol
- Regular follow-up scans
Q7. What is the success rate?
In expert hands, the technical success rate exceeds 95%, and the risk of complications is less than 5%.
Q8. Can stenting be repeated if necessary?
Yes, but it is very rare. If a stent blocks again, re-intervention with balloon angioplasty or additional stenting may be done.
Q9. Will I need rehabilitation after this procedure?
If you have residual weakness or speech issues from previous strokes, rehab may be required. Otherwise, most patients recover rapidly.
Q10. Is this covered by insurance?
Yes, most major insurance policies and government health schemes cover intracranial stenting under stroke care.