title: Transluminal stent-assisted coil embolization of a vertebral confluence aneurysm: technique report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent advances in stent technology have allowed for negotiation of often tortuous posterior circulation intracranial vasculature. Stent-assisted coil embolization is a novel treatment for complex wide-necked aneurysms, as stents provide a buttress that allows for coil deposition while preventing coil herniation into the parent vessel lumen. We describe a case of stent-assisted coil embolization of a complex wide-necked vertebral confluence aneurysm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 61-year-old woman presented with a Hunt-Hess III, Fisher Grade III subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a ruptured vertebral confluence aneurysm demonstrated on angiography. The patient underwent emergent angiography and attempted coiling of a vertebral confluence aneurysm. Because of the aneurysm's complex wide neck and the presence of subclavian steal syndrome, the coils repeatedly herniated into the left vertebral and basilar artery lumina. A flexible coronary stent was deployed across the aneurysm neck, preventing coil herniation and allowing for greater coil deposition. The patient tolerated the procedure and underwent repeat coiling 2 months postoperatively because of mild coil compaction. This resulted in 100% occlusion and the patient is neurologically normal except for a sixth nerve palsy which had been present after the hemorrhage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent advances in stent technology allow negotiation of the tortuous posterior circulation vasculature. Stent-assisted coil embolization of complex, wide-necked vertebral confluence aneurysms may be an alternative intervention for these surgically challenging lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-2582, USA.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Koebbe
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Jungreis
mesh_terms: D000783:Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply*; D015607:Stents; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*