Long-term Clinical and Angiographic Results of Neuroform Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization in Wide-Necked Intracranial Aneurysms

Abstract

Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization facilitates the endovascular treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. However, the safety and efficacy of its long-term use have not been fully elucidated. To retrospectively examine the long-term results of Neuroform stent usage in conjunction with coil embolization in wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Between November 2002 and December 2010, 79 patients harboring wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated with use of the Neuroform stent. The stenting procedure failed in 2 patients. Therefore, 77 patients harboring 79 intracranial aneurysms were included for analysis. Patient and aneurysm characteristics, progression of aneurysm occlusion, and occurrence of complications were analyzed. Follow-up imaging included digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Kaplan-Meier analysis, as well as univariate analysis were performed to determine the progression of aneurysm occlusion and to examine the predictive factors for complete aneurysm occlusion, respectively. Overall, complete aneurysm occlusion was observed in 42.4% of the cases immediately after treatment and progressed to 96.5% at 7-year follow-up. The mean angiographic follow-up time was 25.8 months (range, 0-84 months). Eleven aneurysms (14%) were re-treated. Sixty-eight patients (88.3%) had favorable clinical outcome with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤ 1, 3 patients (3.9%) had an mRS of 2, and 5 patients (6.5%) did not have a clinical follow-up. The mean clinical follow-up time was 45.4 months (range, 3-92 months). One patient (1.3%) died of a procedure-related hemorrhage. Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms prevents hemorrhage and provides a high rate of aneurysm occlusion at long-term follow-up.