Combined balloon stent technique with the Scepter C balloon and low-profile visualized intraluminal stent for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms

Background The ‘balloon-then-stent’ method involves stent placement after completion of a balloon-assisted embolization. The drawback to this technique is that the coil mass achieved during balloon remodeling must be crossed prior to stent deployment. This additional maneuver introduces the potential risk of coil disruption. We describe the first report of a novel technique employing the ‘balloon-then-stent’ method. Methods A 51-year-old patient with an unruptured right middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm was treated with balloon remodeling employing a 4×10 mm Scepter C balloon catheter. Following coil embolization, a low-profile visualized intraluminal stent (LVIS) Jr 2.5 mm×16 mm was delivered via the coaxial balloon catheter and deployed across the aneurysm neck. Results Follow-up angiograms demonstrated that the coil mass was well-seated within the aneurysm sac and the parent vessel was widely patent with satisfactory vessel wall apposition by the stent. Conclusions We describe a technique for balloon remodeling followed by stenting for aneurysm coil embolization that incorporates the use of a coaxial dual-lumen balloon catheter system through which a novel self-expanding stent can be deployed. In the case described, we found this technique to be safe and feasible, reducing both the number of steps involved in this technique and the opportunities for mechanical coil-related complications.