[LVIS stent-assisted coil embolization in the acute stage of ruptured intracranial aneurysms].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of LVIS stent-assisted coil embolization in the acute phase of ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

METHODS

The clinical data of 55 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm treated with LVIS stent-assisted coil embolization admitted to Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2016 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The general data, the characteristics of aneurysms and the occurrence of perioperative complications of the patients were collected. The clinical prognosis of the patients at discharge and 6 months of follow-up was recorded. The Glasgow prognosis score (GOS) was graded as good (5), average (3-4), and poor (1-2), and the cerebral angiography results were recorded immediately after embolization and 6-month follow-up. The aneurysm occlusion was assessed by Raymond grade, Raymond I was complete obliteration, II was residual neck and III was residual aneurysm.

RESULTS

All 55 patients received LVIS stent-assisted coil embolization within 72 hours of ruptured intracranial aneurysms, and all stents were released successfully, including 16 males (29.1%) and 39 females (70.9%). The median age was 53 (24-80) years old. Anterior circulation aneurysms were found in 49 patients (89.1%) and posterior circulation aneurysms in 6 patients (10.9%). According to Hunt-Hess classification, there were 43 patients with grade I-II (78.2%), 7 patients with grade III (12.7%) and 5 patients with grade IV-V (9.1%). The first digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination of 55 patients after embolization showed that 41 patients had complete obliteration of aneurysms and 14 had residual neck; and the smaller the aneurysm was, the higher the rate of complete obliteration after embolization was. The proportion of small aneurysms (maximum diameter ≤ 7 mm) in the complete obliteration group was significantly higher than that in the neck residual group (100.0% vs. 64.3%, P < 0.01). Among the 55 patients, there was 1 patient suffered from in-stent thrombosis during embolization, 1 patient suffered from distal vascular thrombosis induced by plaque shedding during embolization, 1 patient suffered from vasospasm during embolization, and 1 patient suffered from postoperative distal cerebral hemorrhage after embolization. In 2 dead patients, 1 died of cardiogenic disease and 1 died of respiratory failure caused by severe pneumonia. At discharge, the prognosis was good in 40 patients, average in 10 patients, and poor in 5 patients; and the higher the Hunt-Hess grade at admission, the worse the prognosis. The proportion of patients with Hunt-Hess grade I-II at admission in the good prognosis group was significantly higher than that in the general prognosis group and the poor prognosis group (90.0% vs. 50.0%, 40.0%, P < 0.01). Of the 55 patients, 39 completed clinical prognosis and cerebral angiography 6 months after embolization for follow-up. All patients had GOS no less than 3, including 32 patients with complete obliteration of aneurysm, 4 with residual neck and 3 with residual aneurysm. The smaller the aneurysm, the higher the rate of complete obliteration at 6-month follow-up was. The proportion of small aneurysm in the complete obliteration group was significantly higher than that in the residual neck group and the residual aneurysm group (100.0% vs. 75.0%, 33.3%, P < 0.01). There was no rebleeding or ischemic complication at 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

LVIS stent assisted coil embolization is safe, effective and feasible in the acute stage of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Standardizing antiplatelet therapy and dense packing of aneurysms during embolization are the key to reduce bleeding and ischemic complications.