Comparison of Two Endovascular Interventions with Low-Profile Visualized Intraluminal Support or Pipeline Embolization Device in Middle Cerebral Arterial Aneurysms Patients

Appraisal of the Flow Diversion Effect Provided by Braided Intracranial Stents

Objective: Comparison of the results of stent-assisted coiling (SAC) with braided stents (BS), flow diverters (FD), and laser-cut stents (LCS) to determine the relative flow-diverting capacity of BS (Leo baby and Accero). Methods: Saccular intracranial aneurysms treated by SAC and FD-assisted coiling were retrospectively evaluated. Aneurysm occlusion, as graded per Raymond-Roy score, was categorized as either recanalization/stable residual filling (Group A; lacking a flow diversion effect) or stable/progressive occlusion (Group B with a "flow diversion effect"). Factors predicting the flow diversion effect were evaluated. Results: Of the 194 aneurysms included, LCS, BS, and FD were used in 70 (36.1%), 86 (44.3%), and 38 (19.6%) aneurysms, respectively. Aneurysms treated by FD were larger, had wider necks, and were located on larger parent arteries (p < 0.01, 0.02, and <0.01, respectively). The mean imaging follow-up duration was 24.5 months. There were 29 (14.9%) aneurysms in Group A and 165 (85.1%) in Group B. Among a spectrum of variables, including sex, age, aneurysm size, neck width, parent artery diameter, follow-up duration, and stent type, the positive predictors for stable/progressive aneurysm occlusion were aneurysm size and placement of an FD or BS (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively, and were positive predictors over LCS: ORs 6.34 (95% CI: 1.62-24.76) and 3.11 (95% CI: 1.20-8.07), respectively) in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: The placement of BS was a predictor of flow diversion over laser-cut stents. However, the flow diversion effect was approximately half that of FDs, suggesting that BS may only be considered to have some (partial) flow diversion effects.

Hemodynamic analysis for endovascular treatment in small unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a matched comparison study of flow diverter versus LVIS

BACKGROUND

We compared the treatment of small unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) with flow diverter and LVIS-assisted coiling to determine the effects of hemodynamic changes caused by different stent and coil packing in endovascular treatment.

METHODS

Fifty-one UIAs in 51 patients treated with pipeline embolization device (PED) were included in this study and defined as the PED group. We matched controls 1:1 and enrolled 51 UIAs who were treated with LVIS stent, which were defined as the LVIS group. Computational fluid dynamics were performed to assess hemodynamic alterations between PED and LVIS. Clinical analysis was also performed between these two groups after the match.

RESULTS

There was no difference in procedural complications between the two groups (P = 0.558). At the first angiographic follow-up, the complete occlusion rate was significantly higher in the LVIS group compared with that in the PED group (98.0% vs. 82.4%, P = 0.027). However, during the further angiographic follow-up, the complete occlusion rate in the PED group achieved 100%, which was higher than that in the LVIS group (98.0%). Compared with the LVIS group after treatment, cases in the PED group showed a higher value of velocity in the aneurysm (0.03 ± 0.09 vs. 0.01 ± 0.01, P = 0.037) and WSS on the aneurysm (2.32 ± 5.40 vs. 0.33 ± 0.47, P = 0.011). Consequently, the reduction ratios of these two parameters also showed statistical differences. These parameters in the LVIS group showed much higher reduction ratios. However, the reduction ratio of the velocity on the neck plane was comparable between two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both LVIS and PED were safe and effective for the treatment of small UIAs. However, LVIS-assisted coiling produced greater hemodynamic alterations in the aneurysm sac compared with PED. The hemodynamics in the aneurysm neck may be a key factor for aneurysm outcome.

Stent-assisted coil embolization of unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms using LVIS Jr. stents

Authors reported the anatomical and clinical results of the stent assisted coiling (SAC) of unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms using Low-profile Visualized Intraluminal Support Junior (LVIS Jr.). Forty-seven MCA aneurysms in 46 patients were the subjects of this study. The mean aneurysm size, neck width were 4.5 ± 1.8 mm, 3.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. Immediate anatomical outcomes were class Ⅰ in 31 (65.0%), class Ⅱ in 5 (10.6%) and class III in 11 (23.4%) patients according to Raymond-Roy classification. The latest anatomical outcomes were class Ⅰ in 33 (86.8%), class Ⅱ in 2 (5.3%) and class III in 3 (7.9%) patients. The change of aneurysm obliteration status were unchanged in 27 (71.0%), improved in 9 (23.7%) and worsen in 2 (5.3%). There were no recurrence necessitating additional treatment. Two patients suffered from angiographically evident in-stent thrombosis, but their clinical outcomes remain good. The modified Rankin scale at discharge were 0 in 45 patients, 1 in 1 patient. No patient showed clinical worsening during the clinical follow-up period at outpatient clinic (mean, 27.4 months). SAC of unruptured MCA aneurysms using LVIS Jr. provide safe and durable effect with high complete obliteration rate recurrence rate.