Coil Embolization of Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms Using Stents in Small Arteries Less Than 2 mm in Diameter

Data regarding the safety and effectiveness of stent placement in small vessels (<2 mm in diameter) for treating wide-necked cerebral aneurysms are limited.

To report our experience regarding coil embolization of unruptured cerebral aneurysms using stents (specifically the Neuroform Atlas) in small arteries <2 mm in diameter.

Patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization between March 2017 and March 2021 in our hospital were included.

Of the 137 cerebral aneurysms included in this study, 49 required stent placement and 48 were treated using the Neuroform Atlas in the small vessels measuring <2 mm in diameter (small vessel group [SVG]). In the SVG, 43 aneurysms (87.8%) demonstrated complete occlusion. Regarding complications, 2 (4.1%) patients had in-stent thrombosis during procedures and 5 (10.2%) experienced symptomatic thromboembolic complications, but only 2 (4.1%) had worsening of the modified Rankin scale ≥1 at 90 days after embolization. Patients with middle cerebral artery aneurysms had a higher risk of thrombotic events (5/18 patients, 27.8%), such as symptomatic thromboembolic complications or intraprocedural in-stent thrombus than those with other aneurysms (1/31 patients, 3.2%), in the SVG (P = .0167).

Stent-assisted coil embolization for unruptured cerebral aneurysms using stents, especially the Neuroform Atlas, in small arteries <2 mm in diameter is effective and feasible, but careful perioperative attention should be given to thrombotic events during the embolization of middle cerebral artery aneurysms.