Endovascular treatment of fusiform aneurysms of vertebral artery using stents

Abstract

Objective To report clinical outcomes of endovascular treatment of fusiform aneurysms of vertebral artery (VA) using stents. Methods Consecutive 23 cases (12 ruptured, 11 unruptured) of vertebral artery fusiform aneurysms treated with stents were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical outcomes were graded with Glasgow outcome scale. Results Twenty-five stents were placed in 23 patients for 24 fusiform VA aneurysms. All patients were successfully treated using stents. In 19 patients coil-embolization of the aneurysmal lumen was used. One aneurysm was treated by placement of 2 stents covering the dissection site. There was no technique-related complication. According to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), 22 patients (96 %) had a good recovery and 1 (4 %) died due to intraoperative rebleeding. Conclusion Endovascular therapy using stents may be a useful treatment in patients with fusiform VA aneurysms involving the PICA or hypoplasia of the eontralateral VA or unruptured VA aneurysms. Key words: Stem; Intracranial aneurysm; Vertebral artery