Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with flow-diverter stents: preliminary single-centre experience

Purpose This paper reports our preliminary experience with the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using flow-diverter stents (FDs) and compares it with the literature data. Materials and methods From May 2009 to April 2012, 28 patients (6 men and 22 women; mean age, 54 years) with a total of 35 aneurysms were treated with FDs. We evaluated postprocedural technical success and long-term efficacy, with follow-up examinations performed at 3–7 days [computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance (MR) angiography] and at 3, 6 and 12 months (digital subtraction angiography, DSA). A total of 43 FDs were placed, 36 Pipeline and 7 Silk. Results A total of 30 procedures were performed (two patients were treated twice). Technical success was 96.6%, with one case of postprocedural death; the aneurysm exclusion rate at 3, 6 and 12 months was 60%, 73% and 89%, respectively. There was no case of acute stent thrombosis, and only two cases of nonsignificant stenosis. All covered side branches were patent, except one case of steno-occlusion of the ophthalmic artery. Conclusions Our results are consistent with the literature and demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of FDs in selected cases of cerebral aneurysm (wide neck, fusiform, blister-like).