The Wingspan Stent: An exciting treatment to unblock arteries in the brain and promise new hope to stroke victims.
Similar to how clogged arteries may cause a heart attack, excess plaque can also build up and block arteries within the brain, leading to a stroke. A new minimally invasive procedure – one that only requires a small incision in the groin area – is now being done by interventional neuroradiologists who specialize in treating the brain.
The Wingspan Stent is used in individuals diagnosed with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) -- excess plaque build-up in the arteries within the brain. The idea is to use the Wingspan Stent to ensure a steady flow of blood to the brain and to prevent blood clots that are the major cause of ischemic strokes. The stent is currently used in patients who have had a transient ischemic attack, often referred to as a TIA or mini-stroke, or patients who suffer a stroke while on aspirin or other medical therapy to prevent stroke.
This page contains the following information on the Wingspan Stent:
- What is the Wingspan Stent Procedure Like?
- A Patient's Experience with This Procedure
- Video of the Wingspan Stent Procedure
What is the Wingspan Stent Procedure Like?
An interventional neuroradiologist directs a catheter through the femoral artery in the leg to gain access to the blocked artery in the brain. A balloon catheter is threaded through and expanded to open the blood vessel to its full capacity. Next the Wingspan Stent, a tiny wire-mesh tube, is inserted and placed carefully in the area that was ballooned open. A protective sheath is removed, and the stent self-expands to brace open the inside of the vessel wall.
The Wingspan Stent applies minimal pressure to the blood vessel wall and is designed to adapt to the vessel opening. This allows the blood to flow more freely though the artery. The stent's flexibility also allows it to conform to curves and various sizes of blood vessels, while providing the ability to treat arteries in areas of the brain that are impossible to treat with traditional neurosurgery techniques.
The Wingspan Stent is often used in conjunction with or following medical therapy. While this procedure has few side effects and a quick recovery time, it is important to find an interventional neuroradiologist with experience. The blood flow in the brain is vital for a person’s survival, and it requires an experienced physician to carefully manage the pressure and flow so to not overwhelm the brain tissue with a sudden rush of blood.
This exciting new procedure is just one of many ways that interventional neuroradiologists can now offer hope to patients who have suffered or are likely to suffer a stroke. There will soon be a medical study in which interventional neuroradiologists from RIA will participate that will compare current standards for medical therapy to Wingspan stenting results in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease.
Learn about a Patient's Experience with This Procedure
Interventional neuroradiologists at Radiology Imaging Associates (RIA) are one of the first to use a new procedure to help patients reduce their chance of having a massive, life threatening stroke. The Wingspan Stent allows doctors to treat ICAD (intracranial atherosclerotic disease) characterized by narrowed, arteries in the brain, which increase a person’s risk for stroke.
After months of experiencing limb numbness, disorientation, loss of vision and dizzy spells, 67 year-old Polly Johnson was finally diagnosed with ICAD. At the time of her diagnosis, Polly, a registered nurse, had few options to treat her symptoms or cure her condition. An MRI performed during her initial diagnosis showed small strokes. Faced with the real possibility of suffering another, possibly life threatening stoke, Polly was referred to Dr. Don Frei, a neurointerventional radiologist, who performed a new procedure where a specially designed stent was placed into the narrowed artery in her brain to increase blood flow and therefore reduce the risk of stroke.
“Until I consulted with the interventional radiologists at RIA, my options weren’t good,” said Johnson. “Dr. Frei was able to assess my situation and provide me with a new procedure that could save my life.” Learn more about this procedure and Polly’s recovery and prognosis in a Channel 7 new story.
Each year, approximately 60,000 Americans experience intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) related strokes. Until recently, the only treatment options widely available have involved the use of drug therapies such as aspirin and blood thinners. Although these therapies work for many, they are ineffective for thousands like Polly Johnson. Patients with severe blockages in arteries in the brain face the reality that they have up to a 25% chance of suffering a stoke within a year.
For years, stents – thin, wire mesh tubes – have been routinely used to prop open blocked arteries near the heart or in the carotid artery in the neck. The new Wingspan Stent, designed specifically for use in the brain, is providing interventional neuroradiologists with an exciting, viable option for treating patients like Polly who suffer from ICAD.
Since undergoing the procedure in January, Johnson says, “I can’t tell you how relieved and grateful I am! All of my symptoms are gone and I feel great.”
Watch a Video of This Procedure
The following video, courtesy of Boston Scientific, shows an animation of the Wingspan Stent procedure. This video requires Microsoft Media Player.
| File Size | Video Length | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Scientific Wingspan Stent | 33 MB |
2 minutes |
