Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the LVIS device: a systematic review

Despite promising initial results, current knowledge regarding the use of the Low-profile Visualized Intraluminal Support (LVIS) device to treat wide-necked intracranial aneurysms is still limited. Our aim is to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of the LVIS device in stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysms.

We conducted a systematic review by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for all published studies on the treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the LVIS device up to March 2016. Feasibility was evaluated by the technical success rate during the procedure, efficacy was evaluated by the rate of complete aneurysm occlusion at follow-up angiography, and safety was assessed by procedure-related morbidity and mortality.

A total of nine studies were included in the analysis, including 384 patients with 390 aneurysms. The overall technical success rate was 96.8% (95% CI 94.4% to 99.1%). The aneurysmal complete occlusion rate was 54.6% (95% CI 31.8% to 77.4%) on immediate control and 84.3% (95% CI 78.9% to 89.7%) at follow-up angiography. Procedural-related morbidity and mortality were 1.4% (95% CI 0.2% to 2.6%) and 0% (95% CI 0%), respectively. The thromboembolic event rate was 4.9% (95% CI 1.9% to 7.9%) and the hemorrhagic event rate was 2.1% (95% CI 0.7% to 3.5%), with 0.9% (95% CI 0% to 1.8%) experiencing neurologic hemorrhagic complications and 1.9% (95% CI 0.5% to 3.2%) experiencing non-neurologic hemorrhagic complications.

Our systematic review suggests that endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the LVIS device is feasible, safe, and effective in the short term. However, the rate of thromboembolic complications is not negligible. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the LVIS device.