In simple words: A minimally invasive procedure to open narrowed arteries in the brain. A thin tube is inserted through a small incision, usually in the groin, and guided to the blocked artery. A tiny balloon is inflated to widen the artery and restore blood flow.

This procedure involves percutaneous insertion of a catheter into an artery, typically the femoral artery, and advancing it to a stenotic intracranial artery. A small balloon is then inflated within the narrowed artery to dilate it and improve blood flow. The procedure includes diagnostic cerebral angiography, selective catheterization, and radiological supervision and interpretation.

Example 1: A patient presents with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) due to atherosclerotic stenosis of the middle cerebral artery.61630 is performed to dilate the artery and prevent stroke., A patient experiences acute stroke symptoms due to a blockage in the intracranial internal carotid artery. 61630 is performed as part of the emergent treatment., A patient with recurrent TIAs despite medical management has a significant stenosis in the intracranial vertebral artery. 61630 is performed to improve blood flow and reduce symptoms.

Documentation should include details of the artery accessed, the location and severity of the stenosis, the balloon size used, the angiographic findings before and after the procedure, and any complications encountered.Medical necessity for the procedure must also be documented.

** While generally safe, risks include vessel rupture, dissection, and hemorrhage. Balloon angioplasty alone is preferred over stent placement in some intracranial situations to minimize the risk of perforator stroke. The choice between angioplasty alone versus stent placement is based on factors such as lesion length, location, and access difficulty.