Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysms: Parent Vessel Occlusion Being a Viable Option in the Era of Flowdivertors

• Published in: Neurology India 2020-03, Vol.68 (2), p.316-324
• Main Authors: Singh, Vivek, Phadke, Rajendra, Agarwal, Vivek, Behari, Sanjay, Neyaz, Zafar, Chauhan, Gaurav
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aneurysm; Aneurysms; Care and treatment; Catheters; Clopidogrel; Headaches; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical imaging; Nature; Neck; Patients; Stents; Veins & arteries; Vomiting
• ISSN: 0028-3886; 1998-4022
• DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.280635

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysms along with the efficacy, safety, procedural, and clinical outcome of the endovascular management of these aneurysms. We studied different techniques of endovascular treatment such as selective aneurysmal coiling, parent artery occlusion, and stent-assisted coiling in PCA aneurysms. Methods: From 2010 to 2017, 11 patients (8 females, 3 males) harboring a PCA aneurysm were treated via an endovascular approach. Seven of eleven aneurysms were saccular in nature; four were fusiform shaped. All aneurysms were treated using detachable coils either by selective obliteration of the aneurysm sac or by parent artery occlusion. In one patient, stent-assisted coiling of PCA aneurysm was done, and in one patient, flowdivertor along with few coils used to treat the aneurysm. Results: Five of the eleven aneurysms were successfully treated with preservation of the parent artery, and the other six were treated with aneurysm coiling along with parent vessel occlusion. Of the six where parent vessel occlusion was done, one developed transient hemiparesis which recovered on follow-up and none developed significant disabling vision abnormality. No mortality was noted. Conclusion: Aneurysms of the PCA are rare compared with other locations in the intracranial circulation. These aneurysms can effectively be treated by permanent occlusion of the parent artery even in this era of flowdivertors - however, in these cases, thorough knowledge of PCA segmental anatomy is crucial in order to select the site of occlusion and to avoid major neurological deficits.