Single-stage extracranial carotid artery stenting and intracranial aneurysm coiling: technical feasibility and...

The coexistence of carotid artery stenosis and cerebral aneurysm in a patient presents challenges for treatment decision-making. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and clinical outcome after single-stage extracranial carotid artery stenting (CAS) and ipsilateral intracranial aneurysm coiling in a single institution. From March 2005 to February 2011, 17 patients with 21 aneurysms underwent single-stage CAS and coiling for ipsilateral aneurysms. There were symptomatic atherosclerotic carotid stenoses with unruptured aneurysms in eight, ruptured or symptomatic aneurysms with simultaneous asymptomatic carotid stenoses in two and asymptomatic lesions in seven. CAS was followed by aneurysm coiling in all 17 patients. Clinical and radiological data were reviewed. There were two procedure-related complications: acute in-stent thrombosis in one and premature aneurysmal rupture in the other. After aneurysm coiling, complete occlusion was demonstrated in 17 aneurysms and near-total occlusion in four. No neurological deficit was found at discharge and follow-up outcomes were excellent in all the patients (mean, 32.9 months). Follow-up imaging studies were performed in all the patients, including neck CT angiography in 14 (mean, 26.1 months), brain MR angiography in 14 (mean, 31.2 months), and conventional angiography in three (mean, 14.7 months). They revealed two asymptomatic, mild carotid re-stenoses and one major aneurysmal recanalization requiring re-coiling. A single-stage CAS and coiling procedure appears to be feasible and the complication rate seems to be reasonable. We suggest that there is no need for separate therapeutic procedures when a patient has carotid artery stenosis and accompanying ipsilateral intracranial aneurysm.