Laser-Cut Stent-Assisted Coiling of Wide-Necked Giant Cavernous ICA Aneurysm: Inviting a Catastrophe

Management of wide-necked aneurysms in cavernous ICA has significantly evolved in the endovascular era, with flow diverters and stent-assisted coiling being an effective modality. It is vital to select the type of stent according to the arterial anatomy, hemodynamics, and device characteristics. We report a catastrophic complication of laser-cut stent used for SAC of cavernous ICA aneurysm performed at another center 5 years back, presenting with regrowth and massive life-threatening epistaxis managed successfully. In tortuous angulated anatomy, laser-cut stents are difficult to place, poorly visible, and the device opening is uncertain. Unlike braided stents, laser-cut stents do not provide flow diversion effect, stent migration, and buckling phenomena are more likely to occur with laser-cut stents. We intend to discuss the technical fallacies behind using laser-cut stents in such case scenarios and the optimal treatment approach for such cases with an attitude to learn from such complications.