The prompt CT scan features following cerebrovascular stenting

Objective: To evaluate the features of the brain CT scans following cerebrovascular stenting so as to guide the anticoagulant and antiplatelet treatment after cerebrovascular stenting. Methods: Eighty-seven patients with symptomatic cerebrovascular stenosis were scanned with brain CT after cerebrovascular stenting. The therapy of intracranial cerebrovascular stenting was conducted in 71 cases, and extracranial cerebrovascular stenting in 16 cases. According to the CT findings, the patients were divided into 3 types. Type I was diagnosed as normal, type II was thought that the lesions of cerebral infarctions were enhanced, and type III was diagnosed as intracranial hemorrhage. Results: In type I (normal CT scans), there were 74 (85.1%) patients. There were 8 (9.2%) cases in type II. All the infarctions were found enhanced within 35-78 days (mean 50 days). There were 5(5.7%) cases in type III. 2 patients were diagnosed as subarachnoid hemorrhage after MCA stenting, and 2 with headache were diagnosed as subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral hemorrhage after MCA stenting. One died of serious subarachnoid hemorrhage. The others fully recovered and were discharged. Conclusion: It is necessary to perform the prompt brain CT scan after the placement of cerebrovascular stent. The findings of high density in the cerebral infarctions within two months indicate that it is enhanced lesions, and high density in subarachnoid space in the side of stent placement indicates subarachnoid hemorrhage. (authors)