Stent-assisted Coiling for Ruptured Basilar Artery Dissecting Aneurysms: An Initial Experience of Four Cases

Abstract

No treatment strategy has been established for subarachnoid hemorrhages due to basilar artery (BA) trunk dissecting aneurysms. Our aim was to report our initial experience performing stent-assisted coiling (SAC) for ruptured BA dissecting aneurysms to validate the effectiveness of this treatment. We experienced four consecutive cases of ruptured dissecting BA trunk aneurysm treated with SAC between 2008 and 2014 at three institutions. Aneurysm rebleeding was prevented without causing severe brainstem ischemia in all cases. In our opinion, both the blockage of the inflow to aneurysms and the preservation of the antegrade flow of the BA can be achieved by SAC, although controversies regarding long-term stability and appropriate antiplatelet therapy remain.