Treatment of internal carotid artery aneurysms with a covered stent: experience in 24 patients with mid-term follow-up results.
OBJECTIVE
We present our preliminary experience, including mid-term angiographic and clinical follow-up results, with an alternative technique for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms in a series of patients. This new method, previously described in anecdotal case reports, consists of endovascular deployment of an artificial vessel graft (stent graft or covered stent) in the parent vessel to exclude the intracranial aneurysm sac from circulation.


METHODS
Twenty-five internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms in 24 patients were successfully treated by using a Jostent coronary stent graft deployed in the parent artery across the aneurysm neck. All except four aneurysms were extradural, located in the petrous or cavernous portion of the ICA. The four intradural aneurysms were located in the carotico-ophthalmic region. Seventeen aneurysms in 16 patients occurred posttraumatically, secondary to motor vehicle accidents or surgical injury.


RESULTS
Twenty-three aneurysms were immediately excluded from circulation after stent graft placement. In two aneurysms, a slow contrast material filling (endoleak) into the aneurysm cavity was observed immediately after treatment. One was thrombosed, as shown by late control angiography; in the other one, a second larger bare stent was used to appose the stent graft's distal end to the ICA wall, thus sealing the endoleak into the distal graft. No technical adverse event, including vessel dissection, vessel perforation, or thromboembolism, occurred with or without clinical consequence. No mortality or morbidity developed during or after the procedure, including the follow-up period. Two-year control angiography in one patient, 1.5-year control angiography in two patients, 1-year control angiography in six patients, and 6-month control angiography in 12 patients were performed, revealing reconstruction of the ICA with no aneurysm recanalization. All symptoms resolved after treatment in the patients who had initially presented with mass effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Initial anatomic, clinical and mid-term follow-up results in this small series of patients are encouraging. This technique has been proved to have potential in the reconstructive treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Further research and development are needed to optimize the stent graft technology for the cerebrovascular system.
Saatci
Isil
I
Hacettepe University Hospital, Department of Radiology, Sihhiye 06100, Ankara, Turkey.
Cekirge
H Saruhan
HS
Ozturk
M Halil
MH
Arat
Anil
A
Ergungor
Fikret
F
Sekerci
Zeki
Z
Senveli
Engin
E
Er
Uygur
U
Turkoglu
Sami
S
Ozcan
Osman E
OE
Ozgen
Tuncalp
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible