Treatment of Tandem Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms Using a Single Pipeline Embolization Device: Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy

Safety and efficacy of the pipeline embolization device for treatment of small vs. large aneurysms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Flow diversion with the pipeline embolization device (PED) is increasingly used to treat intracranial aneurysms with high obliteration rates and low morbidity. However, long-term (≥ 1 year) angiographic and clinical outcomes still require further investigation. The aim of this study was to compare the occlusion and complication rates for small (< 10 mm) versus large (10-25 mm) aneurysms at long-term following treatment with PED. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We conducted a comprehensive search of English language databases including Ovid MEDLINE and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process, and Daily, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus. Our studies included a minimum of 10 patients treated with PED for small vs. large aneurysms and with at least 12 months of follow-up. The primary safety endpoint was the rate of clinical complications measured by the occurrence of symptomatic stroke (confirmed clinically and radiographically), intracranial hemorrhage, or aneurysmal rupture. The primary efficacy endpoint was the complete aneurysm occlusion rate. Our analysis included 19 studies with 1277 patients and 1493 aneurysms. Of those, 1378 aneurysms met our inclusion criteria. The mean age was 53.9 years, and most aneurysms were small (89.75%; N = 1340) in women (79.1%; N = 1010). The long-term occlusion rate was 73% (95%, CI 65 to 80%) in small compared to 84% (95%, CI 76 to 90%) in large aneurysms (p < 0.01). The symptomatic thromboembolic complication rate was 5% (95%, CI 3 to 9%) in small compared to 7% (95%, CI 4 to 13%) in large aneurysms (p = 0.01). The rupture rate was 2% vs. 4% (p = 0.92), and the rate of intracranial hemorrhage was 2% vs. 4% (p = 0.96) for small vs. large aneurysms, respectively; however, these differences were not statistically significant. The long-term occlusion rate after PED treatment is higher in large vs. small aneurysms. Symptomatic thromboembolic rates with stroke are also higher in large vs. small aneurysms. The difference in the rates of aneurysm rupture and intracranial hemorrhage was insignificant. Although the PED seems a safe and effective treatment for small and large aneurysms, further studies are required to clarify how occlusion rate and morbidity are affected by aneurysm size.

Transradial Stent-Assisted Coiling Using "Dual-Jailing" Technique for Kissing Aneurysms of the Internal Carotid Artery: Technical Note and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Kissing aneurysms are an unusual type of multiple intracranial aneurysms having different origins with partially adherent walls. Although endovascular treatment is a useful alternative to surgical clipping, endovascular management for small wide-necked kissing aneurysms has not been adequately investigated to date. Herein, we present a case of small wide-necked kissing aneurysms successfully treated with transradial stent-assisted coiling (SAC) using the "dual-jailing" technique. We also performed a review of the relevant literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 64-year-old woman who was diagnosed with small wide-necked kissing aneurysms relating to the ophthalmic artery underwent SAC using the dual-jailing technique. After a 6F Simmons guiding sheath was delivered into the target common carotid artery via transradial access, a 6F intermediate catheter was navigated into the petrous internal carotid artery to achieve both triple microcatheter manipulation and contrast injection. Two coil-delivery microcatheters were cannulated into each aneurysm, followed by a Neuroform Atlas stent deployment over the aneurysm necks via a third stent-delivery microcatheter. By using the jailed microcatheters, SAC of the kissing aneurysms was successfully achieved, preserving the ophthalmic artery. The postprocedural course was uneventful. A follow-up magnetic resonance angiography showed no evidence of recanalization 2 years 3 months post procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

The dual-jailing technique may provide simple and time-saving SAC compared with previous reported method. This technique can be a useful treatment option for small wide-necked kissing aneurysms.

Tubridge flow diverter for the treatment of small and medium aneurysms

Background

Tubridge flow diverter is a widely used device aimed at reconstructing parent arteries and occluding complex aneurysms in China. The experience of Tubridge in treating small and medium aneurysms is still limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Tubridge flow diverter for the treatment of the two types of aneurysms.

Methods

We reviewed the clinical records of aneurysms treated with a Tubridge flow diverter between 2018 and 2021 in a national cerebrovascular disease center. Cases were divided into small and medium aneurysms according to aneurysm size. The therapeutic process, occlusion rate, and clinical outcome were compared.

Results

In total, 57 patients and 77 aneurysms were identified. The patients were divided into two groups: small aneurysms (39 patients, 54 aneurysms) and medium aneurysms (18 patients, 23 aneurysms). There were 19 patients with tandem aneurysms (a total of 39 aneurysms) in the two groups, among which 15 patients (30 aneurysms) were in the small aneurysm group and four patients (nine aneurysms) were in the medium aneurysm group. The results show that the mean maximal diameter/neck in the small and medium aneurysms was 3.68/3.25 and 7.61/6.24 mm, respectively. In total, 57 Tubridge flow diverters were successfully implanted without unfolding failure, and there were six patients with new mild cerebral infarction in the small aneurysm group. The complete occlusion rate on the last angiographic follow-up was achieved in 88.46% of the small aneurysms group and 81.82% of the medium aneurysms group. The complete occlusion rate of patients with tandem aneurysms in the last angiographic follow-up was 86.67% (13/15) of the small aneurysms group and 50% (2/4) of the medium aneurysm group. Intracranial hemorrhage was nonencountered in the two groups.

Conclusion

Our preliminary experience suggests that the Tubridge flow diverter might be a safe and effective treatment for small and medium aneurysms along the internal carotid artery. Long stents may increase the risk of cerebral infarction. Adequate evidence is required to clarify the definite indications and complications in a multicenter randomized controlled trial with a long-term follow-up.

The off-label uses of pipeline embolization device for complex cerebral aneurysms: Mid-term follow-up in a single center

OBJECTIVE

To describe the off-label uses of pipeline embolization device for a variety of types of aneurysms including ruptured aneurysms, posterior circulation aneurysms, small aneurysms, distal aneurysms, and recurrent aneurysms.

METHODS

Clinical and angiographic data of patients who underwent pipeline embolization device treatment on off-label use at our center were retrospectively reviewed. For categorical variables, Fisher's exact test was used, and a two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for patients' age to analyze the correlation with outcomes.

RESULTS

In this study, 121 aneurysms in 107 patients received off-label pipeline embolization device treatments. The overall rate of complete aneurysm occlusion was 77.8% (28/36 in 35 patients) for posterior circulation aneurysms and 95.3% (81/85 in 72 patients) for anterior circulation aneurysms. The posterior circulation aneurysms have a lower rate of aneurysm occlusion (p = 0.0372). The small aneurysms have a higher rate of aneurysm occlusion (p = 0.0104). The patient's sex, age, and aneurismal size were associated with ischemic stroke complications (p = 0.0397, 0.0166, and 0.0178). In posterior circulation aneurysm patients, only two basilar apex aneurysms underwent pipeline embolization device treatment, both of whom died of thrombotic complications. There was no difference in mortality between posterior circulation aneurysm patients (8.6%, 3/35) and anterior circulation aneurysm patients (1.4%, 1/72) (p = 0.1015). Patients of older age have a higher risk of death rate (p = 0.0053).

CONCLUSIONS

The off-label use of pipeline embolization device is often performed in clinical practice and can achieve efficacy in complex aneurysms. The off-label use of pipeline embolization device was found to carry an increased rate of mortality in older patients. Excluding basilar apex aneurysms, the pipeline embolization device is as safe as anterior circulation aneurysms in the treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms elsewhere.

Microsurgical Clipping of Carotid-Ophthalmic Tandem Aneurysms: Case Report and Surgical Nuances

Tandem intracranial aneurysms (TandIAs) are rare but inherently complex, and special technical considerations are required for their surgical management. The present case highlights the key surgical aspects of two carotid-ophthalmic TandIAs incidentally found in a 60-year-old female. Both the aneurysms were superiorly projecting, regular in size, and involved the left ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The minimum distance between the necks was 3 mm. The patient underwent microsurgery because of the reported major complications rate of the endovascular treatment in the case of a very short minimum distance between the TandIAs. After cervical ICA exposure, both the aneurysms were excluded through a pterional approach. Intradural anterior clinoidectomy and unroofing of the optic canal allowed the mobilization of the left optic nerve. The more distal aneurysm was clipped before the opening of the distal dural ring of the ICA. The proximal aneurysm was clipped with two straight clips stacked perpendicular to the ICA. A small remnant was intentionally left to avoid the stenosis of the ophthalmic artery. Postoperative angiography showed the exclusion of both the aneurysms with a small dog-ear of the more proximal one. The patient was discharged neurologically intact and, after one year, the remnant remained stable. Microsurgical clipping is a definitive and durable treatment for carotid-ophthalmic TandIAs. In the case of a very short minimum distance between the aneurysms, the distal one should be clipped first to make the anterior clinoidectomy, opening of the distal dural ring of the ICA, and clipping of the more proximal aneurysm easier.

The Minimum Distance May Affect Perioperative Complications and Completed Occlusions of Endovascular Treatment for Tandem Intracranial Aneurysms: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Tandem aneurysms (TAs) are a distinct type of multiple intracranial aneurysms (IAs), the treatment strategies for which remain controversial. We aimed to reveal the clinical and angiographic outcomes of endovascular treatment as well as their risk factors in these complex multiple IAs.

METHODS

This multicenter, retrospective follow-up study was carried out in 3 hospitals in China. In total, clinical and angiographical data of 137 patients with 145 lesions (7 patients had bilateral lesions) and 315 TAs were collected. The treatment strategies were divided into full or partial treatment, single- or multiple-session treatment, and coiling (including single coiling and stent-assisted coiling)- or flow-diverting stent (FDS) treatment. Perioperative complications, as well as angiographic and clinical outcomes and their risk factors, were analyzed using univariate analysis and a multiple regression model.

RESULTS

Of treated TA lesions, 17 (16.0%) perioperative complications were found. Significant differences were found between the single- and multiple-session treatment groups (p = 0.012). At the latest follow-up, there were no significant differences in the modified Raymond Scale scores between different treatment groups. Significant differences were found in the embolization degree between the coiling and FDS groups (p = 0.038) and between the single common stent (without coiling) and the other treatment groups (p < 0.001). In IAs managed by a single LVIS stent (without coiling), 60% achieved improved or completed occlusion. Multivariate regression analysis found that a shorter minimum distance (odds ratio [OR] 5.967, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.366-26.074; p = 0.018), multiple-session treatment (OR 9.961, 95% CI 1.707-58.127; p = 0.011), and diabetes (OR 8.106, 95% CI 1.928-34.084; p = 0.004) were predictors of perioperative complications, while shorter minimum distance (OR 5.619, 95% CI 1.493-21.152; p = 0.011), greater diameter ratio (OR 3.621, 95% CI 1.014-12.937; p = 0.048), and greater size ratio (OR 2.424, 95% CI 1.007-5.834; p = 0.048) were predictors of low completed occlusion rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Both coiling and FDS can be utilized safely and can achieve similar clinical outcomes. FDS and LVIS are recommended for IAs that do not require embolization but cannot be prevented from being covered by stents. A multiple-session treatment may increase the treatment risk, and the minimum distance may affect the incidence of perioperative complications and completed occlusions. Further hemodynamic and prospective studies on such TAs in close proximity to one another are needed.

Treatment of Unruptured, Tandem Aneurysms of the ICA with a Single Flow Diverter

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intracranial adjacent tandem lesions of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are rare and the optimal treatment strategy is unknown. This study was carried out to determine whether a single flow diverter stent (FDS) could be successfully used to treat these lesions.

METHODS

The prospectively maintained database was retrospectively carried out to identify patients treated between February 2009 and February 2018 with multiple unruptured, tandem ICA aneurysms and treated with a single FDS. Demographic data, clinical presentation, aneurysm characteristics, treatment data, clinical result and clinical and radiological follow-up information were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 69 patients (62 female, 89.8%) with average age 55 ± 14.8 years were identified. In total there were 169 aneurysms and the majority of patients (n = 47, 68.1%) had only 2 tandem aneurysms. The largest aneurysms measured 7.69 ± 5.3 mm (range 1.5-26 mm) in height, 6.64 ± 4.71 mm (range 1.5-23 mm) in width and the smaller aneurysm measured 2.61 ± 1.32 mm (range 0.8-9.5 mm) in height and 2.32 ± 1.12 mm (range 0.7-8 mm) in width. In 36 patients the p64 was used, the PED in 28 patients and Surpass in 5 patients. Follow-up was available in 54 patients (130 aneurysms). At initial follow-up (7.2 ± 4.2 months) 45 (83.3%) of the larger aneurysms and 66 (86.8%) of the smaller aneurysms were satisfactorily occluded (Raymond-Roy classification RRC 1 or 2). At delayed follow-up (18 ± 14.6 months) 48 of the larger aneurysms (88.9%) and 71 of the smaller aneurysms (93.4%) were satisfactorily occluded. There were three complications including one death.

CONCLUSION

A single FDS can be used to successfully treat multiple tandem aneurysms of the ICA with a high rate of aneurysm exclusion and an acceptable risk profile.