Patency of the posterior communicating artery after flow diversion treatment of internal carotid artery aneurysms

Waleed Brinjikji, Giuseppe Lanzino, Harry J. Cloft, David F. Kallmes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and purpose Cerebral aneurysm treatment with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) often mandates device placement across the ostia of arteries of the Circle of Willis. We determined the patency rates of the posterior communicating artery (Pcomm) after placement across its ostium a PED and studied neurologic outcomes in these patients. Methods We analyzed, retrospectively, a consecutive series of patients in whom a PED was placed across the ostium of Pcomm while treating the target aneurysm. Pcomm arterial flow after PED placement was graded on a 3-point scale at post-operative angiography and follow-up angiography. Data on pretreatment aneurysm rupture status, concomitant coiling, number of PEDs used, and neurologic status at follow-up were collected. Results Eleven patients with 13 aneurysms were included in this study. All patients had an ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery arising from the basilar artery (P1). In the immediate post-procedural setting, four patients (36%) had diminished Pcomm flow rates. After a mean follow-up of 12.6 ± 6.7 months, three Pcomm arteries (27%) were occluded and two Pcomm arteries (18%) had diminished flow. Of patients with diminished flow/occluded Pcomm at follow-up, 80% (4/5) had diminished flow at initial post-procedure angiography compared to none of the six patients without diminished/occluded flow immediately post treatment. No patients suffered new neurologic symptoms at follow-up. Conclusions Approximately one half of Pcomm arteries demonstrated occlusion or decreased flow at follow-up if the ostia are covered with a flow diversion device. Covering the Pcomm ostium in patients with a P1 did not result in any neurologic deficits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)84-88
Number of pages5
JournalClinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
Volume120
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2014

Keywords

  • Aneurysm
  • Endovascular
  • Flow diverter
  • Intervention
  • Stroke

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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