Preliminary experience using the Neuroform stent for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

INTRODUCTION: The Neuroform microstent-a flexible, self-expandable, microcatheter-delivered, nitinol stent designed for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms-was recently approved for use in patients. We present the results of our initial experience in using the Neuroform stent to treat patients with cerebral aneurysms, with an emphasis on potential applications, technical aspects of deployment, and associated intra- and periprocedural complications.
METHODS: The records of all patients treated with the Neuroform stent were entered prospectively into a database. We assessed the clinical history, indications for stent use, aneurysm dimensions, and technical details of the procedures, including any difficulties with stent placement and/or deployment, degree of aneurysm occlusion, and complications.
RESULTS: During a 5-month period, 19 patients with 22 aneurysms were treated with the Neuroform stent. Twenty-five stents were deployed. Five patients had multiple stents placed. Five patients had ruptured aneurysms at the time of treatment. The indications for use were broad-necked aneurysms (n = 13; average neck length, 5.1 mm; average aneurysm size, 9 mm), fusiform or dissecting aneurysms (n = 3), salvage and/or bailout (n = 1), and giant aneurysms (n = 2). Technical problems included difficulty in deploying the stent (n = 6), inability to deploy the stent (n = 1), stent displacement (n = 2), inadvertent stent deployment (n = 1), and coil stretching (n = 1). Twenty-one of the 22 aneurysms were treated. Four aneurysms were stented without additional treatment, and 17 aneurysms were stented and coiled. Of the coiled aneurysms, complete or nearly complete (more than 95%) occlusion was achieved in 6 aneurysms, and partial occlusion was achieved in 11. Two clinically significant adverse events occurred, both of which were sequelae of periprocedural thromboembolic complications. One patient died after thrombolysis was attempted. The other patient made an excellent functional recovery after undergoing successful thrombolysis of a thrombosed basilar artery stent.
CONCLUSION: The Neuroform stent is a useful device for the treatment of patients with aneurysms that may not otherwise be amenable to endovascular therapy. In the majority of cases, the stent can be deployed accurately, even within the most tortuous segments of the cerebral vasculature. Although delivery and deployment may be technically challenging, clinically significant complications are uncommon.