Sole stenting technique for the treatment of uncoilable very small aneurysms in the intracranial internal carotid artery

Emergent carotid artery stenting for cervical internal carotid artery injury during carotid endarterectomy: A case report

Background:

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been the standard preventive procedure for cerebral infarction due to cervical internal carotid artery stenosis, and internal shunt insertion during CEA is widely accepted. However, troubleshooting knowledge is essential because potentially life-threatening complications can occur. Herein, we report a case of cervical internal carotid artery injury caused by the insertion of a shunt device during CEA.

Case Description:

A 78-year-old man with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperuricemia developed temporary left hemiplegia. A former physician had diagnosed the patient with a transient cerebral ischemic attack. The patient’s medical history was significant for the right internal carotid artery stenosis, which was severe due to a vulnerable plaque. We performed CEA to remove the plaque; however, there was active bleeding in the distal carotid artery of the cervical region after we removed the shunt tube. Hemostasis was achieved through compression using a cotton piece. Intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed severe stenosis at the internal carotid artery distal to the injury site due to hematoma compression. The patient underwent urgent carotid artery stenting and had two carotid artery stents superimposed on the injury site. On DSA, extravascular pooling of contrast media decreased on postoperative day (POD) 1 and then disappeared on POD 14. The patient was discharged home without sequela on POD 21.

Conclusion:

In the case of cervical internal carotid artery injury during CEA, hemostasis can be achieved by superimposing a carotid artery stent on the injury site, which is considered an acceptable troubleshooting technique.

Balloon-in-stent assisted coiling for treatment of intracranial overwide and undertall aneurysms

This study reports our experience of balloon-in-stent assisted coiling for the treatment of morphologically unfavorable aneurysms located in the internal carotid artery (ICA). From July 2007 to April 2014, twelve patients with twelve aneurysms located in the ICA were coil embolized by simultaneously using balloon and stent assistance. Five aneurysms were ruptured and seven were unruptured. All the aneurysms were overwide (dome-to-neck ratio ⩽1.2) and undertall (aspect ratio ⩽1.2) anatomically. The procedure-related adverse events, clinical and angiographic results were retrospectively analyzed. Intraprocedural aneurysmal bleeding occurred for one unruptured aneurysm but was stopped immediately after the balloon was inflated. Periprocedural thromboembolism occurred for two ruptured aneurysms, leading to death in one patient and severe neurological deficit for the other one. Procedure-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 8.3% (1/12) and 8.3% (1/12). Satisfactory (total and subtotal) occlusion was obtained immediately in 11 (91.7%) cases. Nine aneurysms received digital subtraction angiography follow-up (mean 25.1months, range 6-55), and all of them except one were totally obliterated. No aneurysmal bleeding occurred during a mean period of 59.1months, clinical follow-up for eleven patients. Balloon-in-stent assisted coiling might be a therapeutic alternative to prevent growth or rupture of overwide and undertall aneurysms. Nevertheless, it should be used prudently for ruptured ICA aneurysms, for its disadvantage of technical complexity and relatively high rate of adverse events.

Angiographic Characteristics and Endovascular Treatment of Anterior Cerebral Artery A1 Segment Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

This report aimed to review the angiographic characteristics and evaluate the safety and feasibility of endovascular treatment of A1 aneurysms.

METHODS

Nineteen ruptured and 13 unruptured A1 aneurysms treated endovascularly were evaluated in this study. The angiographic and clinical records were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Endovascular treatments were successfully applied in all 32 aneurysms. Conventional coiling was performed in 24 aneurysms, stent-assisted coiling in 7, and solo stenting in 1. The immediate angiographic result was 1 aneurysm in 15, two aneurysms in 10, and 3 in 7 aneurysms according to the Raymond grade. Intraoperative rupture was detected in 1 case without clinical consequence, and no other procedure-related complication occurred. Angiographic follow-up (mean, 12 months; range, 2-42 months) of 25 aneurysms showed total occlusion in 20, improvement in 1, stability in 3, and recurrence in 1. The only recurrence was detected in a case treated using conventional coiling, and it was retreated with stent-assisted coiling. Clinical follow-up (mean, 25 months; range, 6-93 months) was available in 24 of 30 patients, and the modified Rankin Scale score was 0-1 in 22 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular treatment is technically feasible and safe for A1 aneurysms.

Outcomes of Stent-assisted Coil Embolization of Wide-necked Intracranial Aneurysms Using the Solitaire™ AB Neurovascular Remodeling Device

Objective

This retrospective study presents our experience with respect to the clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients treated with stent-assisted coil embolization using Solitaire™ AB stents.

Materials and Methods

From March 2011 to December 2014, 50 patients with 55 wide-necked and/or complex intracranial aneurysms were evaluated. Four patients presented with an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stent deployment was performed with a standard coiling procedure in 49 aneurysms. Three patients underwent bailout stenting, 2 patients were treated by temporary stenting and one patient was treated only by stenting without coiling for dissecting aneurysm.

Results

Successful placement of the Solitaire AB stent was achieved in all the cases. Based on the postprocedural angiographic results, a Raymond 1 was obtained in 32 (59%) of 54 aneurysms, excluded by one case of dissecting aneurysm, and a Raymond 2 in 13 (24%), and a Raymond 3 in 9 (17%). There was one thromboembolic (2%) and three hemorrhagic complications (6%). However, procedure-related morbidity or mortality was not found. Annual follow-up angiographic results from the embolization were obtained in 40 (74.1%) of 54 cases. These results were represented as Raymond 1 in 27 (67.5%), class 2 in 9 (22.5%), and class 3 in 4 (10%) cases. Angiographic improvement associated with progressive thrombosis of the aneurysm was obtained in 10 aneurysms. Four aneurysms were recanalized without requiring additional treatment. In-stent stenosis was found in one aneurysm, but stent migration was not seen on follow-up angiography.

Conclusion

Stent-assisted coil embolization using the Solitaire AB stent for treating wide-necked and/or complex intracranial aneurysms was found to be safe and effective immediately post-embolization and after follow-up. Long-term follow-up will be required to identify the effect of the Solitaire AB stent on recanalization rates.

Does a Low-wall Coverage Stent Have a Flow Diverting Effect in Small Aneurysms?

BACKBROUND AND PURPOSE

The flow diverting effect of a low-wall coverage stent remains controversial. We evaluted patients who underwent stenting for small aneurysms with a low but potential risk of growth and reviewed related literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated 9 small aneurysms among 19 unruptured intracranial aneurysms from eight patients who underwent stenting. The patients had unexplainable severe headache (n = 8), aneurysm originating from the anterior choroidal artery (n = 3), potential growth or rupture risks including hypertension (n = 5), and multiple aneurysms (n = 6). Stents with a relatively low-wall coverage ratio (8-10%) were used. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

One (n = 8) or two stents (n = 1) were used without any procedural difficulties or complications. Although no immediate changes of aneurysm morphology were observed, aneurysms decreased in size (n = 8) when examined by DSA (n = 8) or MRA (n = 1) during a median 28.9-month follow-up. There were no adverse events, including thromboembolism, aneurysm rupture, or stent movement during a median 31.9-month clinical follow-up (range: 17-69 months).

CONCLUSION

Although a variable degree of aneurysm size decrease may not prevent further growth or rupture of small aneurysms, stenting with a low-wall coverage ratio may have some advantageous hemodynamic effect. Flow modification of stent architecture vs. aneurysm characteristics, including size and location, on long-term outcome, requires further clarification.