Endovascular vertebral artery orifice angioplasty for the prevention of acute ischemic stroke following vertebral artery stump syndrome

BACKGROUND: Vertebral artery stump syndrome (VASS) involves repeated acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the posterior circulation following vertebral artery (VA) orifice occlusion. The presence of VA orifice occlusion makes endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) difficult to achieve and leads to posterior circulation stroke with unfavorable functional outcomes. Here, we report a case of endovascular VA orifice angioplasty for the right VA pseudo-occlusion to prevent AIS following VASS pathology. CASE DESCRIPTION: In a 76-year-old man presenting with dizziness, angiography revealed right pseudo-occluded VA at the origin concomitant with the left VA occlusion. The posterior circulation depended on the right VA through collateral flow to the distal portion. Prophylactic endovascular VA angioplasty for the right pseudo-occluded VA at the orifice was achieved to prevent AIS with tandem lesions. In the present case, endovascular VA angioplasty can prevent acute embolic stroke in the posterior circulation following EVT-resistant VASS pathology. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware that EVT is not easy in AIS following VASS due to access difficulties and the treatment strategy should be carefully considered.