Stent-assisted embolization of internal carotid artery aneurysms

Endovascular embolization of wide neck aneurysm often results in incomplete occlusion or aneurysm recurrence. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of stent-assisted embolization of wide neck aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA).

A series of 10 patients with ICA aneurysms attempted treatment by stent-assisted Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) embolization (n = 9) or by stent alone (n = 1). There were 3 men and 7 women ranging in age from 21 to 78 years, with a mean of 51 years. The indications of stenting were wide neck aneurysms (n = 9) and herniation of detached coils from aneurysmal sac into parent artery (n = 1).

Endovascular stent placement was technically successful in 8 cases. In one case with a cervical big ICA aneurysm, a stent was placed across the neck of aneurysm without deposition of embolic material into the aneurysmal sac. The initial control angiogram revealed residual aneurysm; however, complete obliteration of aneurysmal sac was achieved as observed on angiograms in 8 months. Six cases of wide neck aneurysms were successfully treated by stent-assisted GDC embolization. One case had prolapse of coil loops into parent artery after coils detached; the coil loops were successfully pushed back to aneurysm after stent placement. Two patients had difficulties to navigate the stents across the aneurysm necks because of tortuous parent arteries; in one of them, the stent partially covered the neck of aneurysm, which made the success of subsequent GDC embolization; in the other one, advancement of the stent to the targeted site was abortive, and the aneurysm was eventually loose packing. No significant procedure-related complication was found. One patient had asymptomatic dissection of the parent artery after stent placement. One patient had a transient ischemic attack and returned to normal baseline neurological conditions later. Clinical follow-up for these patients was 0.5 to 36 months, with a mean of 14 months.

Stent-assisted embolization is a treatment of choice for wide neck aneurysms or for patient with herniation of coil loops to parent artery after coil detached. It was proven both safe and effective over a relatively long follow-up.