2021 Volume 49 Issue 4 Pages 241-246
Background and Purpose: Significantly more flow diverter (FD) stents, such as the PipelineTM Flex Embolization Device (PFED; Medtronic, Irvine, CA, USA), are being deployed to treat large internal aneurysms. However, the safety and effects of these devices for treating recurrent intracranial aneurysms after endovascular therapy have not been evaluated in detail. The present study aimed to determine the safety of FDs in treating recurrent intracranial aneurysms.
Methods: Clinical and radiological data from five patients (mean age, 69 years; female, 4; male, 1), with five aneurysms (average size, 18.4 mm), who underwent endovascular treatment with PFED for recurrent internal carotid artery aneurysms at the Osaka National Hospital from October 2015 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: During a mean follow-up of 21 months, 3 (60%) and 2 (40%) aneurysms became completely and partially occluded, respectively. One female patient with distal embolism completely recovered three months after treatment.
Conclusion: The PFED is minimally invasive, alleviates the mass effects of aneurysms, and would thus be important for treating recurrent intracranial aneurysms after endovascular treatment.
