Technical advantages of a novel flow diverter in complex flow diversion: patient series.

BACKGROUND: The Surpass Streamline flow diverter (SSFD) possesses 4 attributes that may offer an important advantage in the treatment of complex pathologies: (1) utilization of an over-the-wire (OTW) delivery system, (2) greater device length, (3) larger potential diameter, and (4) propensity to open in tortuosity.

OBSERVATIONS: Case 1 leveraged device diameter to embolize a large, recurrent vertebral artery aneurysm. Angiography at 1 year posttreatment showed complete occlusion with a patent SSFD. Case 2 leveraged device length and opening in tortuosity to manage a symptomatic 20-mm cavernous carotid aneurysm. Magnetic resonance imaging at 2 years demonstrated aneurysm thrombosis and patent stents. Case 3 utilized diameter, length, and the OTW delivery system to treat a giant intracranial aneurysm previously treated with surgical ligation and a high-flow bypass procedure. Angiography at 5 months postprocedure demonstrated the return of laminar flow, as the vein graft had healed around the stent construct. Case 4 used diameter, length, and the OTW system to treat a giant, symptomatic, dolichoectatic vertebrobasilar aneurysm. Twelve-month follow-up imaging revealed a patent stent construct with no change to the aneurysm size.

LESSONS: Increased awareness of the unique attributes of the SSFD may allow a larger number of cases to be treated with the proven mechanism of flow diversion.