title: A reappraisal of the Pipeline embolization device for the treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of the Pipeline embolization device (PED) in the posterior circulation is of some controversy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Recent publications have described adverse outcomes associated with the PED for vertebral and/or basilar artery pathology. We assessed our results in the treatment of this challenging subset of aneurysms after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively reviewed our series of PED cases in this cohort. Patients were assessed for aneurysm type, technical success, periprocedural complications, and aneurysm obliteration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since FDA approval, 17 patients with posterior circulation aneurysms were treated with the PED. These included aneurysms of the vertebral artery (V4) segments (n=8), basilar trunk (n=6), basilar apex (n=2), and cervical vertebral artery (n=1). Two patients had a prior subarachnoid hemorrhage. All of the aneurysms treated were either saccular, had a saccular component, or were dissecting in nature. No dolichoectatic aneurysms were treated. Technical success was achieved in all patients. One complication (1/17 patients; 5.9%), a parenchymal hematoma after ventriculostomy replacement, resulted in permanent disability. Angiographic follow-up has been obtained to date in 14 of the 17 patients and shows complete or near-complete (>90%) obliteration in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient selection is essential for safe and effective PED treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms. The PED is equally effective in achieving aneurysm obliteration with an acceptable risk profile as it is in the anterior circulation. Dolichoectatic aneurysms were not included in this treatment cohort. PED may be a preferable alternative to open surgical treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Felipe C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Min S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Adib A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abla
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: R Webster
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ducruet
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Cameron G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: McDougall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Complication; Device; Flow Diverter