Efficacy and limitations of the neuroform stent system for intracranial aneurysms

We performed aneurysm embolization in seven patients using a self-expandable Neuroform stent (Boston Scientific/Target, Fremont, CA) and coils to cover the aneurysm neck and fill the aneurysm sac. Seven patients with an average age of 45 were treated in the period from October 2002 to July 2003. The aneurysm lesions involved the basilar trunk in one case, the basilar-superior cerebellar artery in one case, the internal carotid artery in four cases, and the middle cerebral artery in one case. The ruptured lesions involved the internal carotid artery in one case and the middle cerebral artery in one case. We used a Neuroform stent measuring 4.5 x 20 mm in four cases, 4.5 x 15 mm in two cases, 3.5 x 20 mm in one case, and 3.5 x 15 mm in one case. We performed aneurysm coil embolization after Neuroform stenting in all cases without development of neurological deficits caused by the interventional procedure. In performing these procedures, we investigated the efficacy and limitations of the Neuroform stent system for intracranial aneurysms. The advantages of Neuroform self-expanding stents include better flexibility and adaptability to different vessel sizes, but this stent system presents various technical difficulties during delivery.