BACKGROUND: According to structure and materials, the intracranial artery stenosis stent can be divided into metal, polymer, and coating stents. Which one is more suitable for clinical practice remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intracranial artery stenosis stents from the theory, applications, complications and efficacy, in addition, to analyze the biocompatibility of stent.
METHODS: PubMed and English Medical Current Contents (EMCC) were searched using key words of “intracranial arteriostenosis, stent placement” for English papers. Meantime, CNKI was searched using key words of “intracranial stenosis, stent placement” and the language was limited in Chinese. In addition, relevant monographs were manual searched. Manuscripts addressing different materials of intracranial arterial stenosis stent were evaluated, including basic research, clinical applications, complications and efficacy evaluation. Totally 151 papers were searched, and 33 manuscripts were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Intracranial artery stenosis stent implantation has obvious advantages than simple drug treatment. In recent years, with the utilization of coronary stents and Wingspan stent, stent implantation has become a safe and effective method for treating intracranial artery stenosis. Although various complications, such as restenosis, cerebral hemorrhage hyperperfusion syndrome, ischemic stroke and so on, would occur after stent implantation, it still receive good short- and midterm outcomes in the treatment of intracranial arterial stenosis. The long-term effect remains to be studied further. The treatment of intracranial artery stenosis stent implantation receives good short- and med term effective, but long-term effect needs further study. There are no significant different of biocompatibility between drug coating stent and Wingspan stent to human body.