Comparison of safety and mid-term effects between direct stenting and angioplasty before stenting in the basilar artery.

•Basilar artery (BA) stenting is relatively safe and has a good results for experienced operators.•Devices and methods chosen by operator based on the characteristics of lesion makes endovascular treatment on BA safer.•Angioplasty before stenting is a good way for BA stenting, it makes the operations on difficult lesions as safe as normal one.•Patients selection and peri-operative managements play a crucial role in intracranial stenting.