Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of off-label use of flow diverters (FDs) in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.Methods:Seventy-one patients with aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis treated with FDs from January 2016 to September 2023 at Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center (Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University), Department of Neurosurgery (Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital), Department of Neurosurgery (First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University), and Department of Neurosurgery (Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University) were selected. The clinical and imaging data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively, and the clinical characteristics, aneurysm characteristics, endovascular treatments, perioperative complications, and clinical and imaging follow-up results were summarized and analyzed.Results:Among the 71 patients, 22 (31.0%) had ischemic stroke history and 43 (60.6%) had hypertension history. A total of 76 aneurysms were found, including 5 aneurysms (6.6%) at the anterior communicating artery, 10 (13.2%) at the anterior cerebral artery, 53 (69.7%) at the middle cerebral artery, and 8 (10.5%) at the posterior cerebral artery. The median aneurysm size (Inter Quartile Range) was 5.65 (3.63, 10.12) mm, and mean diameter of the parent artery was (2.70±0.57) mm. A total of 80 FDs were used, including 38 (47.5%) Pipeline embolization devices and 42 (52.5%) Tubridge embolization devices; the implantation success rate was 98.8% (79/80). Seven patients (9.9%) had perioperative complications, of which 2 (2.8%) were permanent (1 patient with visual field defect and 1 patient with intracranial hemorrhage). Seventy-one patients had clinical follow-up for (19.73±11.90) months, of which 68 patients (95.8%) had good outcome (modified Rankin scale score of 0-2), 10 patients (14.1%) had ischemic complications, and one patient (1.4%) had hemorrhage complications. Sixty-seven aneurysms (88.2%) underwent angiographic follow-up for 7 (6-12) months, of which 44 aneurysms (65.7%) were completely occluded and 10 (14.9%) had in-stent stenosis.Conclusion:The results of this study preliminarily confirm that off-label use of FDs is relatively safe and effective in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of embolization of anterior cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistula (ACF-DAVF) via different arterial approaches, and provide evidence for individualized treatment of ACF-DAVF. Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 25 patients with ACF-DAVF admitted to Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 were enrolled. Vascular approaches, including the anterior cerebral artery ( n=7), facial artery ( n=3), middle meningeal artery ( n=8), ophthalmic artery ( n=6), and vein ( n=1), were selected based on angioarchitectural features and microcatheter accessibility. Fistula and proximal draining vein occlusions were confirmed by immediate post-embolization digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and perioperative complications were recorded. At a 6-month follow-up, prognoses were assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and DSA or MRA was performed to detect the recurrence of ACF-DAVF. Results:Six patients had complete embolization and 2 patients had near-total embolization of the fistula and proximal draining vein immediately after embolization via middle meningeal artery approach; 4 patients achieved complete embolization and 2 patients achieved near-total embolization via ophthalmic artery approach; 6 patients achieved complete embolization and one patient achieved near-total embolization via anterior cerebral artery approach; 3 patients achieved complete embolization via facial artery approach; one patient achieved complete embolization via venous approach. No perioperative intracranial hemorrhage or central retinal artery occlusion was noted. Follow-up for 6 months was performed in 25 patients: mRS score was 0 in 19 patients, 1 in 2 patients, and 2 in 4 patients; DSA in 19 patients and MRA in 6 patients indicated no ACF-DAVF recurrence. Conclusion:Based on the angioarchitectural features and microcatheter accessibility, individualized selection of vascular approaches for ACF-DAVF embolization can achieve better efficacy and safety.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of flow diverter (FD) implantation versus stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) in unruptured saccular aneurysms located at distal segments of the Willis circle.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 119 patients with unruptured saccular aneurysms located at distal segments of the Willis circle who received FD implantation or SACE in Department of Neurosurgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Southern Medical University and Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center, Southern Medical University from January 2018 to May 2025 were selected. According to different surgical methods, they were divided into a FD group ( n=60) and a SACE group ( n=59). These patients were subjected to propensity score matching (PSM) using 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method to eliminate confounding factors such as gender, age, aneurysm location, and aneurysm diameter (maximum diameter); and then, differences in neurological functional prognosis (good prognosis: modified Rankin scale scores of 0-2), complete aneurysm occlusion rate (O'Kelly-Marotta grade D or Raymond occlusion classification class I), and overall (perioperative and follow-up) complications were compared between the two groups. Results:After PSM, there were 43 patients in both FD group and SACE group. No significant difference was found in clinical and imaging follow-ups (12[6, 19] months vs. 10[6, 15] months, 10[5, 19] months vs. 9[2, 15] months) between the FD group and SACE group ( P>0.05). At the last imaging follow-up, the complete aneurysm occlusion rate in the FD group (65.1%[28/43]) was significantly lower than that in the SACE group (76.7%[33/43], P<0.05). At the last clinical follow-up, no significant difference was noted in good prognosis rate (95.3%[41/43] vs. 97.7%[42/43]) and overall complication rate (30.2%[13/43] vs. 18.6%[8/43]) between the FD group and SACE group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Both FD implantation and SACE are safe and effective for unruptured saccular aneurysms located at distal segments of the Willis circle; the complete aneurysm occlusion rate within 1 year of FD implantation is relatively low.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of Pipeline embolization device (PED) Shield in intracranial unruptured saccular aneurysms.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study; 124 patients with intracranial unruptured saccular aneurysms treated with PED Shield at Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from July 2023 to October 2024 were enrolled. Intraoperative device-related complications and occurrence of hemorrhagic and ischemic complications within 30 days of the procedure were recorded. The clinical results and imaging results (degrees of stent patency and aneurysm occlusion rate) 6 months after follow-up were statistically analyzed. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) score>2 was defined as poor prognosis in clinical follow-up, and grade D according to O'Kelly Marotta (OKM) classification was considered as complete aneurysm occlusion in imaging follow-up.Results:Eighty-seven females and 37 males, aged (56.44±12.17) years (ranging from 27 to 80 years) were enrolled, with a maximum aneurysm diameter of 5.12 (3.73, 7.24) mm. Among the 124 patients, incidence of intraoperative instrument-related complications was 6.5% (8/124); and within 30 days of the procedure, incidence of ischemic complications was 4.8% (6/124) and that of hemorrhagic complications was 1.6% (2/124). Eighty-four patients had a 6-month clinical follow-up, with 1 patient (1.2%) having poor prognosis. Eighty-four patients (67.7%) completed a 6-month imaging follow-up: complete occlusion rate of aneurysms was 82.1% (69/84), incidence of in-stent stenosis (stenosis degree ≥25%) was 4.8% (4/84), and no symptomatic in-stent stenosis was found.Conclusion:Result of this study shows that PED Shield may be an effective and safe clinical option for intracranial unruptured saccular aneurysms.

Objective:To investigate the relevant factors for rupture of basilar tip aneurysms.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent cerebrovascular digital subtraction angiography at Department of Cerebrovascular Disease Surgery,Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University from July 2008 to February 2023 and were confirmed to have basilar tip aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed. There were 45 males and 56 females, aged (57.5±10.2) years (range: 36 to 76 years); the maximum diameter of the basilar tip aneurysm ( M(IQR)) was 6.85 (5.79) mm (range: 1.28 to 27.48 mm). Finally, 101 basilar tip aneurysms were included, and divided into two groups based on whether the basilar tip aneurysm ruptured or not. There were 37 cases (36.6%) in the ruptured group and 64 cases (63.4%) in the unruptured group. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, or Fisher′s exact test, as appropriate, and predictive factors for rupture of basilar tip aneurysms were explored by Logistic regression analysis. Variance inflation factors was used for analysis of collinearity. Results:The univariate results showed statistically significant differences between the ruptured and unruptured groups in terms of aneurysm neck width, basilar artery diameter, mean diameter of the parental artery, the ratio of neck width to parent artery diameter, aneurysm width and maximum diameter of the aneurysm (all P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, basilar artery diameter ( OR=0.347, 95% CI:0.176 to 0.687, P=0.002), and NRP ( OR=0.366, 95% CI:0.192 to 0.696, P=0.002) were predictive factors for rupture of aneurysms occurring at the basilar tip. There was no multiple covariance between NRP and basilar artery diameter in the analysis of covariance (VIF=1). Conclusion:Smaller basilar artery diameter and smaller NRP are relevant factors for rupture of basilar tip aneurysms.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of off-label use of flow diverters (FDs) in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.Methods:Seventy-one patients with aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis treated with FDs from January 2016 to September 2023 at Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center (Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University), Department of Neurosurgery (Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital), Department of Neurosurgery (First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University), and Department of Neurosurgery (Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University) were selected. The clinical and imaging data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively, and the clinical characteristics, aneurysm characteristics, endovascular treatments, perioperative complications, and clinical and imaging follow-up results were summarized and analyzed.Results:Among the 71 patients, 22 (31.0%) had ischemic stroke history and 43 (60.6%) had hypertension history. A total of 76 aneurysms were found, including 5 aneurysms (6.6%) at the anterior communicating artery, 10 (13.2%) at the anterior cerebral artery, 53 (69.7%) at the middle cerebral artery, and 8 (10.5%) at the posterior cerebral artery. The median aneurysm size (Inter Quartile Range) was 5.65 (3.63, 10.12) mm, and mean diameter of the parent artery was (2.70±0.57) mm. A total of 80 FDs were used, including 38 (47.5%) Pipeline embolization devices and 42 (52.5%) Tubridge embolization devices; the implantation success rate was 98.8% (79/80). Seven patients (9.9%) had perioperative complications, of which 2 (2.8%) were permanent (1 patient with visual field defect and 1 patient with intracranial hemorrhage). Seventy-one patients had clinical follow-up for (19.73±11.90) months, of which 68 patients (95.8%) had good outcome (modified Rankin scale score of 0-2), 10 patients (14.1%) had ischemic complications, and one patient (1.4%) had hemorrhage complications. Sixty-seven aneurysms (88.2%) underwent angiographic follow-up for 7 (6-12) months, of which 44 aneurysms (65.7%) were completely occluded and 10 (14.9%) had in-stent stenosis.Conclusion:The results of this study preliminarily confirm that off-label use of FDs is relatively safe and effective in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of embolization of anterior cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistula (ACF-DAVF) via different arterial approaches, and provide evidence for individualized treatment of ACF-DAVF. Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 25 patients with ACF-DAVF admitted to Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 were enrolled. Vascular approaches, including the anterior cerebral artery ( n=7), facial artery ( n=3), middle meningeal artery ( n=8), ophthalmic artery ( n=6), and vein ( n=1), were selected based on angioarchitectural features and microcatheter accessibility. Fistula and proximal draining vein occlusions were confirmed by immediate post-embolization digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and perioperative complications were recorded. At a 6-month follow-up, prognoses were assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and DSA or MRA was performed to detect the recurrence of ACF-DAVF. Results:Six patients had complete embolization and 2 patients had near-total embolization of the fistula and proximal draining vein immediately after embolization via middle meningeal artery approach; 4 patients achieved complete embolization and 2 patients achieved near-total embolization via ophthalmic artery approach; 6 patients achieved complete embolization and one patient achieved near-total embolization via anterior cerebral artery approach; 3 patients achieved complete embolization via facial artery approach; one patient achieved complete embolization via venous approach. No perioperative intracranial hemorrhage or central retinal artery occlusion was noted. Follow-up for 6 months was performed in 25 patients: mRS score was 0 in 19 patients, 1 in 2 patients, and 2 in 4 patients; DSA in 19 patients and MRA in 6 patients indicated no ACF-DAVF recurrence. Conclusion:Based on the angioarchitectural features and microcatheter accessibility, individualized selection of vascular approaches for ACF-DAVF embolization can achieve better efficacy and safety.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of flow diverter (FD) implantation versus stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) in unruptured saccular aneurysms located at distal segments of the Willis circle.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 119 patients with unruptured saccular aneurysms located at distal segments of the Willis circle who received FD implantation or SACE in Department of Neurosurgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Southern Medical University and Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center, Southern Medical University from January 2018 to May 2025 were selected. According to different surgical methods, they were divided into a FD group ( n=60) and a SACE group ( n=59). These patients were subjected to propensity score matching (PSM) using 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method to eliminate confounding factors such as gender, age, aneurysm location, and aneurysm diameter (maximum diameter); and then, differences in neurological functional prognosis (good prognosis: modified Rankin scale scores of 0-2), complete aneurysm occlusion rate (O'Kelly-Marotta grade D or Raymond occlusion classification class I), and overall (perioperative and follow-up) complications were compared between the two groups. Results:After PSM, there were 43 patients in both FD group and SACE group. No significant difference was found in clinical and imaging follow-ups (12[6, 19] months vs. 10[6, 15] months, 10[5, 19] months vs. 9[2, 15] months) between the FD group and SACE group ( P>0.05). At the last imaging follow-up, the complete aneurysm occlusion rate in the FD group (65.1%[28/43]) was significantly lower than that in the SACE group (76.7%[33/43], P<0.05). At the last clinical follow-up, no significant difference was noted in good prognosis rate (95.3%[41/43] vs. 97.7%[42/43]) and overall complication rate (30.2%[13/43] vs. 18.6%[8/43]) between the FD group and SACE group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Both FD implantation and SACE are safe and effective for unruptured saccular aneurysms located at distal segments of the Willis circle; the complete aneurysm occlusion rate within 1 year of FD implantation is relatively low.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of Pipeline embolization device (PED) Shield in intracranial unruptured saccular aneurysms.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study; 124 patients with intracranial unruptured saccular aneurysms treated with PED Shield at Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from July 2023 to October 2024 were enrolled. Intraoperative device-related complications and occurrence of hemorrhagic and ischemic complications within 30 days of the procedure were recorded. The clinical results and imaging results (degrees of stent patency and aneurysm occlusion rate) 6 months after follow-up were statistically analyzed. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) score>2 was defined as poor prognosis in clinical follow-up, and grade D according to O'Kelly Marotta (OKM) classification was considered as complete aneurysm occlusion in imaging follow-up.Results:Eighty-seven females and 37 males, aged (56.44±12.17) years (ranging from 27 to 80 years) were enrolled, with a maximum aneurysm diameter of 5.12 (3.73, 7.24) mm. Among the 124 patients, incidence of intraoperative instrument-related complications was 6.5% (8/124); and within 30 days of the procedure, incidence of ischemic complications was 4.8% (6/124) and that of hemorrhagic complications was 1.6% (2/124). Eighty-four patients had a 6-month clinical follow-up, with 1 patient (1.2%) having poor prognosis. Eighty-four patients (67.7%) completed a 6-month imaging follow-up: complete occlusion rate of aneurysms was 82.1% (69/84), incidence of in-stent stenosis (stenosis degree ≥25%) was 4.8% (4/84), and no symptomatic in-stent stenosis was found.Conclusion:Result of this study shows that PED Shield may be an effective and safe clinical option for intracranial unruptured saccular aneurysms.

Objective:To investigate the relevant factors for rupture of basilar tip aneurysms.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent cerebrovascular digital subtraction angiography at Department of Cerebrovascular Disease Surgery,Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University from July 2008 to February 2023 and were confirmed to have basilar tip aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed. There were 45 males and 56 females, aged (57.5±10.2) years (range: 36 to 76 years); the maximum diameter of the basilar tip aneurysm ( M(IQR)) was 6.85 (5.79) mm (range: 1.28 to 27.48 mm). Finally, 101 basilar tip aneurysms were included, and divided into two groups based on whether the basilar tip aneurysm ruptured or not. There were 37 cases (36.6%) in the ruptured group and 64 cases (63.4%) in the unruptured group. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, or Fisher′s exact test, as appropriate, and predictive factors for rupture of basilar tip aneurysms were explored by Logistic regression analysis. Variance inflation factors was used for analysis of collinearity. Results:The univariate results showed statistically significant differences between the ruptured and unruptured groups in terms of aneurysm neck width, basilar artery diameter, mean diameter of the parental artery, the ratio of neck width to parent artery diameter, aneurysm width and maximum diameter of the aneurysm (all P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, basilar artery diameter ( OR=0.347, 95% CI:0.176 to 0.687, P=0.002), and NRP ( OR=0.366, 95% CI:0.192 to 0.696, P=0.002) were predictive factors for rupture of aneurysms occurring at the basilar tip. There was no multiple covariance between NRP and basilar artery diameter in the analysis of covariance (VIF=1). Conclusion:Smaller basilar artery diameter and smaller NRP are relevant factors for rupture of basilar tip aneurysms.