title: Use of the outreach distal access catheter as an intracranial platform facilitates coil embolization of select intracranial aneurysms: technical note.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Outreach distal access catheter (DAC; Concentric Medical, Mountain View, California, USA) has been designed to assist the Merci device (Concentric Medical) with clot retrieval in the setting of acute stroke. Its application for coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2008 and January 2010, 150 aneurysms were treated with endovascular methods. In 18 cases of small aneurysms and/or increased parent vessel tortuosity, the DAC was used for additional support. Merits and complications related to the use of this catheter are reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean aneurysm size was 7.1 mm (range 3.5-25). In each case, the DAC was used as an intracranial platform catheter in close proximity to the target aneurysm. This catheter (outer diameter 3.9 or 4.3 French) increased the stability and reduced the redundancy of the microcatheter. As a result, handling and control of the microcatheter were improved. In three cases, the coiling procedure could not be completed because of difficulties not related to the DAC. Aneurysms in the remaining patients were treated successfully with complete (n=12) or near complete (n=3) angiographic occlusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For smaller or distal intracranial aneurysms with difficult access, use of the DAC as an additional platform in close proximity to the target aneurysm subjectively enhanced microcatheter control and safety.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors: Erik F
authors: EF
authors: Hauck
authors: Rabih G
authors: RG
authors: Tawk
authors: Nicholas S
authors: NS
authors: Karter
authors: Mandy J
authors: MJ
authors: Binning
authors: Alexander A
authors: AA
authors: Khalessi
authors: Sabareesh K
authors: SK
authors: Natarajan
authors: L Nelson
authors: LN
authors: Hopkins
authors: Elad I
authors: EI
authors: Levy
authors: Adnan H
authors: AH
authors: Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome