PURPOSE: The Barrel stent is a laser cut stent designed for stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked bifurcation or branch aneurysms with a single device, with the purpose of lowering the metal-to-artery ratio and its inherent risk of thromboembolic complications of multiple stents. We report our early experiences with this device in 17 patients in this retrospective single-center analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 consecutive patients who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms with the Barrel stent were retrospectively identified. We analyzed the feasibility of successful deployment and post-treatment angiographic results. Adverse events, clinical outcome, and angiographic follow-up results were also analyzed. RESULTS: Aneurysms were located in the internal carotid artery (n=3), the middle cerebral artery (n=9), the anterior communicating artery (n=3), and the basilar artery (n=2). In the immediate post-treatment angiography, adequate occlusion (neck remnant or total occlusion) was observed in 16/17 (94.1%) of aneurysms. One patient experienced a transient ischemic attack. No permanent neurologic deficits were observed. 13/17 (76.5%) patients underwent short-term follow-up angiography after 3 months, all of which showed adequate occlusion of the aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: In this small retrospective single-center analysis we show that stent-assisted coiling with the Barrel stent is a safe and effective option for the endovascular treatment of intracranial wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
PURPOSE: The Barrel stent is a laser cut stent designed for stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked bifurcation or branch aneurysms with a single device, with the purpose of lowering the metal-to-artery ratio and its inherent risk of thromboembolic complications of multiple stents. We report our early experiences with this device in 17 patients in this retrospective single-center analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 consecutive patients who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms with the Barrel stent were retrospectively identified. We analyzed the feasibility of successful deployment and post-treatment angiographic results. Adverse events, clinical outcome, and angiographic follow-up results were also analyzed. RESULTS:Aneurysms were located in the internal carotid artery (n=3), the middle cerebral artery (n=9), the anterior communicating artery (n=3), and the basilar artery (n=2). In the immediate post-treatment angiography, adequate occlusion (neck remnant or total occlusion) was observed in 16/17 (94.1%) of aneurysms. One patient experienced a transient ischemic attack. No permanent neurologic deficits were observed. 13/17 (76.5%) patients underwent short-term follow-up angiography after 3 months, all of which showed adequate occlusion of the aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: In this small retrospective single-center analysis we show that stent-assisted coiling with the Barrel stent is a safe and effective option for the endovascular treatment of intracranial wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.