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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Apr;28(2):229-239.
doi: 10.1177/15910199211026713. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Endoluminal flow diverters in the treatment of sidewall and bifurcation aneurysm: A systematic review and meta-analysis of complications and angiographic outcomes

Mehdi Abbasi  1 , Luis E Savasatano  2 , Waleed Brinjikji  1 , Kevin M Kallmes  3 , Nick Mikoff  3 , Natalie Reierson  3 , Mohamed Abdelmegeed  4 , John Pederson  4 , Beth Warren  3 , Jillienne C Touchette  4 , Sarah Khan  3 , Shelby Kamrowski  3 , Averi Barrett  3 , David F Kallmes  1 , Ramanathan Kadirvel  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Endoluminal flow diverters in the treatment of sidewall and bifurcation aneurysm: A systematic review and meta-analysis of complications and angiographic outcomes

Mehdi Abbasi et al. Interv Neuroradiol. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Background and aim: The use of endoluminal flow diversion in bifurcation aneurysms has been questioned due to the potential for complications and lower occlusion rates. In this study we assessed outcomes of endovascular treatment of intracranial sidewall and bifurcation aneurysms with flow diverters.

Methods: In July 2020, a literature search for all studies utilizing endoluminal flow diverter treatment for sidewall or bifurcation aneurysms was performed. Data were collected from studies that met our inclusion/exclusion criteria by two independent reviewers and confirmed by a third reviewer. Using random-effects meta-analysis the target outcomes including overall complications (hematoma, ischemic events, minor ischemic stroke, aneurysm rupture, side vessel occlusion, stenosis, thrombosis, transient ischemic stroke, and other complications), perioperative complications, and follow-up (long-term) aneurysm occlusion were intestigated.

Results: Overall, we included 35 studies with 1084 patients with 1208 aneurysms. Of these aneurysms, 654 (54.14%) and 554 (45.86%) were classified as sidewall and bifurcation aneurysm, respectively, based on aneurysm location. Sidewall aneurysms had a similar total complication rate (R) of 27.12% (95% CI, 16.56%-41.09%), compared with bifurcation aneurysms (R, 20.40%, 95% CI, 13.24%-30.08%) (p = 0.3527). Follow-up angiographic outcome showed comparable complete occlusion rates for sidewall aneurysms (R 69.49%; 95%CI, 62.41%-75.75%) and bifurcation aneurysms (R 73.99%; 95% CI, 65.05%-81.31%; p = 0.4328).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis of sidewall and bifurcation aneurysms treated with endoluminal flow diverters demonstrated no significant differences in complications or occlusion rates. These data provide new information that can be used as a benchmark for comparison with emerging devices for the treatment of bifurcation aneurysms.

Keywords: Brain ischemia; aneurysm; ruptured; stroke; thrombosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Forest plot for total complication rates by aneurysm type.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Forest plot for perioperative complication rates by aneurysm type.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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