How do you counsel patients on the outcomes of endovascular treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion?

I take a multidisciplinary approach towards counseling patients and their families about outcomes of endovascular treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion with the help of my interventional colleagues.

We discuss with them the gravity of acute basilar artery occlusion (with disabling deficits) and the vital role of the structures that currently may be causing symptoms due to low blood flow and oxygenation to them and the risk of permanent damage to them if the blood flow is not restored and t...

When I explain basilar artery occlusion (BAO) to families, I describe the brainstem as the brain’s most valuable real estate due to its location and function. While BAO shares similarities with other large vessel occlusions in terms of mechanics, the stakes are undeniably higher because of the brainstem’s smaller size and its crucial role in non-volitional processes, such as breathing and consciousness. I emphasize, while this is a challenging condition, intervention often provides the best chan...