title: Treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Reconstruction of the parent artery with flow-diverting (Silk) stent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the flow diverters (FDs) have been introduced it is possible to treat aneurysms that are considered difficult or impossible to treat with usual endovascular or surgical methods. It is still uncertain which aneurysms are suitable for this new treatment. We present the periprocedural complications, immediate result, late complications, imaging follow-up at 6 and 12 months and clinical follow-up at 2-23 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with 26 wide-necked or blister-like aneurysms had 23 treatments with implantation of a Silk stent. Eleven patients had re-canalizations, and 11 patients were either untreated or had been treated for another aneurysm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periprocedural complications were seen in four treatments (17%). However, none of these had clinical consequences. Mortality and morbidity rates were 1 of 22 (5%) and 1 of 22 (5%), respectively. Clinical outcome was unchanged in 16 patients (72%), 3 patients improved (14%) and 3 patients worsened (14%). The end-of-procedure angiography did not show complete occlusion of any of the aneurysms, but at 6 months follow-up angiography, 17 of 25 aneurysms (68%) were completely occluded, and at 12 months, 18 of 21 aneurysms (86%) were occluded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of the Silk FD in terms of occlusion of the aneurysms seems to occur mainly during the first 6 months after placement but continues during the following time. Most delayed complications occur immediately after discontinuing the anticoagulation medication. Considering the complexity of the aneurysms treated, the rate of complications is acceptable.
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. aase.wagner@rh.regionh.dk
authors: Aase
authors: A
authors: Wagner
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Cortsen
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Hauerberg
authors: Bertil
authors: B
authors: Romner
authors: Mathias Pedersen
authors: MP
authors: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome