Rescue Angioplasty with Drug Eluting Balloon (DEB) in Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis Large Vessel Occlusion (ICAS-LVO): a Case Report and Thematic Literature Review

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is an important cause of acute ischemic stroke, particularly in the Asian population. The mainstay of treatment is largely medical, however, despite aggressive medical management, the recurrence rate remains high. Recently, balloon angioplasty in addition to aggressive medical management has emerged as a viable interventional treatment to manage this neurovascular disease entity, effectively. The utilization of drug eluting balloons (DEB) compared to conventional balloons has shown promise, with some early studies demonstrating superiority. Larger scale studies are underway to prove this theory. We attempt to discuss this topic, with an illustrated case in our center. The rationale of this interventional approach, as well as related issues will also be highlighted.