title: Flow Diversion for the Treatment of MCA Bifurcation Aneurysms-A Single Centre Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intracranial aneurysms located at the bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) can often be challenging for the neurointerventionalist. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of flow diverting stents (FDS) in the treatment of these aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained database to collect information for all patients with unruptured saccular bifurcation MCA aneurysms treated with FDS between January 2010 and January 2016. In addition to demographic data, we recorded the location, aneurysm characteristics, previous treatments, number and type of FDS, complications, and clinical and angiographic follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our search identified 13 patients (7 males) with an average age of 61.7 years (47-74 years). All patients had a single bifurcation aneurysm of the MCA, and none of the aneurysms were acutely ruptured. The average fundus size of the saccular aneurysms was 3 mm (range 1.5-10 mm). Follow-up studies were available for 12 patients. Based on the most recent follow-up angiograms, six aneurysms (50%) were totally occluded; five aneurysms (41.7%) showed only a small remnant; and one aneurysm (8.3%) remained unchanged. One patient suffered from an ischemic stroke with resultant permanent hemiparesis (mRS 3). In another case, there was an in-stent thrombosis during the intervention, which resolved upon intra-arterial infusion of Eptifibatide (mRS 0). There were no intra-operative vessel or aneurysm ruptures and no mortalities. Angiography of the covered MCA branches showed no change in the caliber or flow of the vessel in six (50%), a reduction in caliber in five (41.7%), and a complete occlusion in one (8.3%). All caliber changes and occlusions of the vessels were asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our series, 91.7% of treated MCA bifurcation aneurysms were either completely occluded or showed only a small remnant with a good safety profile. Flow diversion of MCA bifurcation aneurysms should be considered as an alternative treatment strategy when microsurgical clipping or alternative endovascular treatment options are not feasible.
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiologic Clinic, Klinikum Stuttgart , Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: Pervinder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhogal
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiologic Clinic, Klinikum Stuttgart , Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: AlMatter
authors.affiliation: Neurologic Clinic, Klinikum Stuttgart , Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: Hansjörg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bäzner
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Clinic, Klinikum Stuttgart , Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ganslandt
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiologic Clinic, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany; Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henkes
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiologic Clinic, Klinikum Stuttgart , Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar Pérez
keywords: MCA aneurysm; MCA bifurcation; P64; Stents; flow diverter; pipeline embolization device