title: Solitaire FR stent as an adjunctive tool for pipeline stent deployment in the treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of flow-diverting stents has gained acceptance during the past few years for the treatment of numerous intracranial aneurysms, especially large or giant ones. However, successful catheterization of the distal parent artery in giant intracranial aneurysms with a microcatheter can be extremely challenging. Forming a microcatheter loop in the aneurysm sac can aid distal catheterization.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the use of a Solitaire FR stent as an adjunctive tool in the successful treatment of 2 giant intracranial unruptured aneurysms with a Pipeline Embolization Device. After having formed a loop inside the aneurysm sac, the microcatheter was anchored distally by a Solitaire FR stent. With the Solitaire FR device opened, the loop in the giant aneurysm sac was completely reduced without loss of the microcatheter position in the distal parent artery. A Pipeline Embolization Device could be delivered in both cases without any difficulty. There were no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique described results in ideal microcatheter alignment with a secure distal position before deployment of a flow-diverting stent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clarençon
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wyse
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Maria
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiras
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sourour
mesh_terms: D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents