Transbrachial stent-assisted coil embolization of right posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm: technical case report.
OBJECTIVE
We describe a case of stent-assisted coil embolization of a wide neck right posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm via a transbrachial artery approach.


METHODS
A 73-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, colon cancer, and osteoporosis presented with a throbbing occipital area headache. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed a wide neck right PICA aneurysm. She presented for a planned endovascular stent-assisted coil embolization.


METHODS
The initial transfemoral approach was complicated by persistent guide catheter instability due to marked tortuosity of the right vertebral artery (VA). The left VA could not be accessed due to left subclavian occlusion with steal syndrome. Neuroform-2 (Boston Scientific; Natick, MA) stent-assisted Matrix (Boston Scientific; Natick, MA) coil embolization was successfully performed through a 6-French guide catheter using a transbrachial approach.


CONCLUSIONS
Current advances in technology produce neuroendovascular devices that are smaller with increased flexibility, allowing nonfemoral vascular access to the cerebral circulation via alternate arterial routes. This patient case demonstrates transbrachial access is a viable approach for endovascular aneurysm coil embolization, with or without stent assistance, in cases with an unstable guide catheter due to tortuous vessels or abnormal anatomy when femoral access is complicated or contraindicated.
Zaidat
Osama O
OO
Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA. ozaidat@mcw.edu
Szeder
Viktor
V
Alexander
Michael J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001916:Brachial Artery; D002536:Cerebral Arteries; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D015607:Stents; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*