Acute basilar artery occlusion is usually associated with a poor prognosis despite therapy with antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents. The natural history of this disorder should be fully understood before clinicians make decisions on therapy. Recent advances in angiography technique and the use of newer mobile microcatheters have made intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy feasible. There have been several small, uncontrolled series of intra-arterial thrombolysis in basilar artery occlusion with promising results.