Modified buddy wire technique for coil embolization of posterior circulation aneurysms.
BACKGROUND
In coil embolization of a posterior circulation aneurysm, tortuosity or a small vessel caliber frequently prevents placement of a guiding catheter in the vertebral artery. Even in such difficult situations, however, coil embolization is the only treatment option when the patient's clinical condition is very poor, or the aneurysm is inaccessible by microsurgery.


METHODS
Three patients with a posterior circulation aneurysm were treated by coil embolization with the use of a modified buddy wire technique to stabilize a guiding catheter that could not be placed into the vertebral artery.


RESULTS
The guiding catheter was stabilized in the subclavian artery and the microcatheter was firmly supported. As a result, coil embolization was performed safely in all patients. There were no procedural complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The modified buddy wire technique could provide patients with a chance to undergo endovascular surgery despite having a tortuous or narrow vertebral artery.
Nishino
Kazuhiko
K
The Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi, 951-8585 Niigata, Japan. nishino@beach.ocn.ne.jp
Ito
Yasushi
Y
Hasegawa
Hitoshi
H
Kikuchi
Bunpei
B
Fujii
Yukihiko
Y
Tanaka
Ryuichi
R
D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D013348:Subclavian Artery; D014711:Vertebral Artery