title: Application of the Willis covered stent for the management of posttraumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas: an initial clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of using the Willis covered stent in the management of patients with traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve consecutive patients with 14 post-traumatic CCFs referred for treatment with Willis covered stents were enrolled in this prospective study. Data on technical success, initial and final angiographic results, mortality, morbidity and final clinical outcome were collected. Follow- up was at one, three, six, and 12 months, and yearly thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deployment of covered stents was technically successful in all the patients without complications. One covered stent was placed in eight patients and two covered stents in four. Angiographic results following stent placement showed a complete occlusion in nine patients with 11 CCFs, and an incomplete occlusion in three patients. Angiographic follow-up (mean, 14.00 ± 6.93 months; range, 6-24 months) revealed complete occlusion and no obvious in-stent stenosis in all the patients. Clinical follow-up (mean, 17.75 ± 7.05 months; range, 7-28 months) demonstrated full recovery in 11 patients, and improvement in one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This initial experience indicates that the use of the Willis covered stent is a feasible procedure and may be an alternative treatment option for CCFs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yong-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peng-Xu
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xin-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult