Evaluation of a clip-reinforced wrapping technique with collagen-impregnated Dacron for intracranial aneurysms inaccessible to other treatment.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe our clip-reinforced wrapping technique (CRW) with collagen-impregnated Dacron and report our experience in intracranial aneurysms (IA) untreatable by coil embolization (CE) or surgical clipping (SC). METHODS: Between July 2003 and November 2010, CRW was performed on 20 IAs in 18 patients using a collagen-impregnated Dacron fabric (Hemashield(®), USA) fixed with a clip around the parent vessel and the IA. RESULTS: Two patients (11%) died of complications from their subarachnoid hemorrhage and preexisting conditions. In the remaining 16 patients, after an average follow-up of 45 months (min 27, max 77), 16 (89%) out of the 18 treated aneurysms were no longer visible and two were reduced and stable. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results suggest that CRW with Hemashield could be an accurate and safe alternative technique for some IA without any other treatment option. IMPLICATIONS Description of an alternative surgical technique for otherwise untreatable intracranial aneurysms.