Endovascular treatment of posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms

Abstract

Objective To investigate the strategies and security of endovascular treatment of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms. Methods The clinical characteristics, endovascular treatment methods, and treatment outcomes of 23 patients with PICA treated at the department of Neurosurgeries, the 455th Hospital of PLA and Changhai Hospital, the Second Military University from May 2006 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. In 14 patients with proximal aneurysm, 3 were treated with stent-assisted coil embolization, 9 were embolized with coils alone, and 2 patients with irregular dissecting aneurysms were treated with coils plus Glubran glue to occlude the parent arteries. The parent arteries of 9 patients with distal aneurysm were occluded with coils or Onyx glue. Results Twenty-three patients did not have any operation-related complications. In 14 patients with proximal aneurysm, 12 did not have new neurological dysfunctions after procedure using the method of retaining parent arteries, and 1 had facial numbness and facial paralysis after procedure in the occlusion of the parent arteries in 2 cases. The incidence of complications was 50%. Nine patients with distal aneurysm recovered well after procedure. They were followed up for 13 months. No recurrence of aneurysms was observed. Conclusions Endovascular treatment of PICA aneurysms is safe and effective. The choice of treatment methods is associated with the location of aneurysms. For proximal aneurysms, we should try to choose the method of retaining parent arteries. Key words: Intracranial aneurysm; Posterior inferior cerebellar artery; Endovascular treatment; Stent; Coil