Abstract No. 441 VIABAHN stent-graft placement for emergent/urgent cervical cerebrovascular artery disease: a single-center experience of 22 cases

Abstract

To report our single-center experience of Viabahn stent-graft placement for acute bleeding or pseudoaneurysms of innominate, cervical carotid, or vertebral artery in emergent/urgent clinical conditions. A retrospective study was conducted between Jan 2003 and Sep 2017. A total of 22 patients (14 male, 8 female; age range 18–82 years, mean 55.8 years and median 56 years) were treated with 22 Viabahn stent grafts (9 carotid blow-out syndrome and 13 pseudoaneurysms with or without dissection: 4 innominate, 4 common carotid, 12 internal carotid, 1 both common and internal carotid, and 1 vertebral artery involvement). The stent-graft patency was evaluated by angiogram, contrast-enhanced CT, MRA, ultrasonography, or direct observation during surgery. The mean and median imaging follow-up periods were 740 and 193 days, respectively. Technical success was 100% (22/22). Dual antiplatelet agents were given in 20 patients either immediately before or after the deployment of the stent-grafts. No immediate procedure-related complications occurred. Two unstable patients with carotid blow-out syndrome died of severe systemic disturbance within 8 days, despite successful bleeding cessation by the procedure. Three patients underwent subsequent bypass surgery within 17 days for concern about infection. One stent-graft occlusion occurred 195 days after the procedure with unexpected cession of antiplatelet therapy. One significant hemorrhagic complication was observed and died 125 days after the procedure (esophagocutaneous fistula). Two patients were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 13 patients, 11 patients demonstrated 6 months or longer stent-graft patency and 2 developed more than 50% stenosis. Viabahn stent-grafting may be safe and useful for the management of emergent/urgent arterial bleeding or pseudoaneurysms involving cervical cerebrovascular arteries.