Guidance

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Endovascular stent insertion for intracranial atherosclerotic disease.

This document replaces previous guidance on Endovascular stent insertion for intracranial atherosclerotic disease (NICE interventional procedure guidance IPG 233, October 2007).

Description

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is the narrowing of the arteries inside the head that supply blood to the brain. ICAD is associated with an increased risk of stroke. In this procedure, a balloon catheter is inserted into an artery in the arm or leg, guided to the affected artery and inflated to open up the narrowing. A small tube made of metal mesh, called a stent, is then positioned at the site of the narrowing to maintain improved blood flow.

Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance.

Endorsing bodies

This interventional procedures guidance is endorsed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland as required by the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)