Comparison Between the Efficacy of a Flow Diverter and Interventional Trapping with Bypass in the Treatment of Unruptured Large- or Giant-Sized ICA Aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE

Management of large- or giant-sized internal carotid artery aneurysms (LICAAs) remains challenging. Whether a flow diverter device (FDD) or interventional trapping with extracranial-intracranial bypass (ITB) is better, remains unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of unruptured LICAA patients treated with FDD or ITB at 3 medical centers. Both the effectiveness and safety results of FDD and ITB were compared.

RESULTS

In total, 101 aneurysms in 95 patients treated with FDDs and 36 aneurysms in 36 patients managed with ITBs were included (September 2014-June 2021). There was no significant difference between the groups in the complete obliteration rate 1 year after surgery (P = 0.101). There were 2 relapse cases (2.0%) and 4 retreated cases (4.0%) in the FDD group and 1 relapse case (2.8%) and 2 retreated cases (5.6%) in the ITB group. Neither the relapse rates nor retreat rates between groups were significantly different. The neurological morbidity rates were 4.0% (4/101) and 2.8% (1/36) in the FDD group and ITB group, respectively, and were not significantly different. There was 1 mortality case in each group, and the mortality rates were not significantly different (P = 0.443). Both the perioperative and overall (perioperative plus long-term) complication rates in the FDD group were significantly lower than those in the ITB group (P = 0.033, P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

FDD had comparable surgical efficacy and a significantly lower postoperative complication rate to traditional ITB. FDD might be preferable to ITB as a treatment modality for LICAA.