Crossing Y-stent technique with dual open-cell stents for coiling of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms

Abstract

Objective: Double stenting in a Y-configuration is a promising therapeutic option for wide-necked cerebral aneurysms not amenable to reconstruction with a single stent. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of the crossing Y-stent technique for coiling of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms.

Methods: By collecting clinical and radiological data we evaluated from January 2007 through December 2013, 20 wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms.

Results: Twelve unruptured and eight ruptured aneurysms in 20 patients were treated with crossing Y-stent-assisted coiling. Aneurysm size and neck size ranged from 3.2 to 28.2mm (mean 7.5mm) and from 1.9 to 9.1mm (mean 4.5mm). A Y-configuration was established successfully in all 20 patients. All aneurysms were treated with a pair of Neuroform stents. The immediate angiographic results were total occlusion in 17 aneurysms, residual neck in two, and residual sac in one. Peri-operative morbidity was only 5%. Fifteen of 18 surviving patients underwent follow-up conventional angiography (mean, 10.9 months). The result showed stable occlusion in all 15 aneurysms and asymptomatic in-stent occlusion in one branch artery. At the end of the observation period (mean, 33.5 months), all 12 patients without subarachnoid hemorrhage had excellent clinical outcomes (mRS 0), except one (mRS 2). Of eight patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, four remained symptom free (mRS 0), while the other four had were dependent or dead (mRS score, 3-6).

Conclusion: In this report on 20 patients, crossing Y-stent technique for coiling of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms showed a good technical safety and favorable clinical and angiographic outcome.

Keywords: Arterial bifurcation; Coil embolization; Intracranial aneurysm; Y-stent.