Endovascular treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms using pCONUS2 HPC bridging device with single antiplatelet: A Case Series

Abstract

Rationale: Wide neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBA) are technically challenging for both surgical and endovascular treatments. Endovascular treatment for WNBA often requires dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) post stent insertion. Novel devices such as the pCONUS2 HPC neck bridging device have an HPC coating which reduces the device thrombogenicity. This theoretically allows for use of single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), which would be advantageous, particularly in treating ruptured aneurysms. This case series aims to evaluate the safety of SAPT regimen only post stent insertion, by presenting our center early clinical experience in using pCONUS2 HPC neck bridging device in patients that are not suitable for DAPT. Patient concerns: We report the cases of 3 patients (2 females, 1 male; range: 64–71 years old) who underwent coil embolization for WNBA using the pCONUS2 HPC device (2 unruptured WNBA, and 1 ruptured WNBA). As all 3 patients were allergic to Aspirin, they could only be started on SAPT post endovascular therapy. Diagnosis: All 3 patients were diagnosed with WNBA on angiographic studies. Patient 1 had an unruptured left middle cerebral artery aneurysm; Patient 2 had a ruptured basilar tip aneurysm; Patient 3 had an unruptured anterior communicating artery (ACOM) aneurysm. Interventions: All 3 WNBA were treated with pCONUS2 HPC neck bridging device. Outcomes: There were no immediate complications. The immediate angiographic result of aneurysm treatment in Patient 1 and Patient 2 demonstrated incomplete occlusions, with delayed complete occlusion of aneurysm in Patient 1 and growth of aneurysmal neck in Patient 2 on follow-up angiograms (range: 6–9 months). No major thrombo-embolic or hemorrhagic complications in the first 2 patients. For Patient 3, the immediate angiographic result of the treated aneurysm demonstrated complete occlusion. However, the patient readmitted 11 days post procedure with cerebral infarction, scoring 5 on the modified Rankin scale on discharge. Lessons: pCONUS2 HPC as a neck bridging device in treating WNBA has yet to be shown superior to traditional techniques and devices. The theoretical advantage of HPC coating reducing its thrombogenicity requiring only SAPT is yet to be proven safe in clinical practice.