A Case That Showed Exacerbation of Intracranial Arterial Stenosis in the Chronic Phase after Percutaneous Intracranial Stent Retriever Thrombectomy

Objective: A case in which intracranial arterial stenosis was exacerbated 5 months after percutaneous intracranial stent retriever thrombectomy is reported. Case Presentation: In a 62-year-old male, percutaneous intracranial thrombectomy using a stent retriever was performed for acute occlusion of the basilar artery. After complete recanalization, a stenotic lesion considered to be atherosclerotic remained in the basilar artery, but the procedure was ended as there was no exacerbation. Although the patient was asymptomatic, cerebral angiography performed 5 months after the treatment showed progression of the remaining stenosis and poor delineation on the distal side of the stenosed area, and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was carried out. Patency of the basilar artery was satisfactory on MRA 10 months after angioplasty. Conclusion: Since existing atherosclerotic stenosis may be exacerbated after percutaneous intracranial thrombectomy using a stent retriever, follow-up of the treated vessel is necessary after this procedure.