Flow-diverter stent to manage intracranial aneurysms: A single center experience

Endovascular coil embolization is an important method for managing intracranial aneurysms. However, aneurysm coiling may fail or be insufficient in geographically difficult aneurysms. A flow-diverter stent (FDS) is an alternative in these difficult coiling aneurysms. Thus, this study reports the experience and outcome of FDS management of intracranial aneurysms.

Over 29 months, FDS treated 125 patients with 163 intracranial unruptured aneurysms. This study enrolled 31 men and 94 women, ranging from 17 to 81 years (mean, 58 years). Clinical data, aneurysm characteristics, and angiographic and clinical outcomes of patients treated by FDS were retrospectively assessed.

The current study found 151 (93%) aneurysms in the internal carotid artery. Most aneurysms (n = 118; 72%) were small (<7 mm). The mean aneurysm size was 6.2 mm (range, 2-38 mm). Follow-up angiography was available in 53 patients with 74 aneurysms (mean, 13 months). Successful FDS deployment in an ideal position was found in 125 of 130 patients (96%). Complete obliteration (CO) was achieved in 58 aneurysms (78%) in the mean 13-month angiographic follow-up. Smaller aneurysms (<7 mm) had a CO tendency than larger aneurysms (p < 0.01) in midterm follow-up. Seven patients (5.6%) had intraprocedural complications (in-stent thrombosis, three patients; distal embolic, two patients; iatrogenic carotid-cavernous fistula, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, one patient). Two patients (1.6%) suffered from permanent procedure-related morbidity (n = 1) or mortality (n = 1). No late hemorrhagic events or stent displacement occurred during the follow-up period.

Despite few procedural complications and some pieces of evidence of insufficient aneurismal treatment in a midterm angiographic follow-up, FDS was effective and safe in managing intracranial unruptured aneurysms, particularly in smaller aneurysms, which had better CO than larger ones.