Point-by-point parent artery/sinus obliteration using detachable, pushable, 0.035-inch coils

Background Parent artery occlusion for intractable aneurysms or sinus packing for dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) is sometimes difficult and requires many expensive coils to accomplish complete occlusion. To help solve these problems, we reviewed our experience using 0.035-inch coil (0.035 coil; Boston Scientific, San Leandro, CA, USA), which has been used in cardiovascular and abdominal lesions. Methods These 0.035 coils were preferably used in addition to the detachable and fibered coils for patients with intractable aneurysms, traumatic vessel blowout, and DAVF. Our strategy was as follows: (1) detachable coils were deployed first for the ideal anchoring of the coils; (2) small fibered coils were additionally deployed to stabilize the coil mass; (3) 0.035 coils were deployed to complete the occlusion. Results From January 2012 to December 2013, seven consecutive patients were treated by endovascular embolization with 0.035 coils. Reasons for intervention were parent artery occlusion for carotid blowout ( n = 1), internal carotid artery aneurysm ( n = 2), traumatic vertebral artery injury ( n = 2), vertebral AVF ( n = 1), and transverse sinus-sigmoid sinus DAVF ( n = 1). In our cases, a mean of 20.1 ± 8.5 coils per vessel were placed, and mean total coil length was 258.4 ± 91.5 cm per vessel. All procedures were safely performed and complete occlusions achieved. Conclusions From our initial experience and treatment results, we believe endovascular parent artery occlusion or sinus packing with 0.035 coils to be useful in terms of reducing the number and expense of coils and also accomplishing immediate occlusion.