IntroductionBasilar artery fenestration (BAF) is a rare vascular variation and its incidence is reported as 0.6-2.33% depending on the diagnostic modality chosen [1][2][3]. Fenestrations on this region increase tendency to aneurysm generation [2]. Complex geometric structure of the fenestration, proximity to lower cranial nerves, presence of sort of vital arterial structures, and deep and challenging nature of this region for surgery increase mortality and morbidity of surgical treatment in these aneurysms [4]. Endovascular treatment is becoming the first choice at the present time [5]. However, experiences on endovascular treatment are limited in the literature because of the rarity of these aneurysms.Our aim in this study is to present our experience on various endovascular treatment modalities of basilar fenestration aneurysms and reviewing our findings together with literature data.
Materials and methodsA total of 26 BAF aneurysms in 24 patients were endovascularly treated in two different neurointerventional radiology clinics. All patients had been evaluated with computed tomography (CT), CT angiography (CTA), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) before the procedure. Ruptured and nonruptured aneurysms were included in the study. Patients with aneurysms unrelated to BAF were excluded. Aneurysms were divided into two groups: narrow-necked (neck diameter lower than 4 mm or dome/neck ratio higher than 2) and wide-necked (neck diameter higher than 4 mm or dome/neck ratio lower than 2) [6].All patients were treated with endovascular method under general anesthesia after hospitalization. Systemic heparinization was performed in all patients ensuring an activated clotting time (ACT) of 250-300 s. After femoral artery puncture, angiograms of both carotid and vertebral arteries were obtained selectively. Endovascular Background/aim: The aim of this study is to present our experience on various endovascular treatment modalities of basilar fenestration aneurysms and reviewing our findings together with literature data.
Materials and methods:A total of 26 basilar artery fenestration (BAF) aneurysms in 24 patients were endovascularly treated in two different neurointerventional radiology clinics. All patients had been evaluated with computed tomography (CT), CT angiography, and digital subtraction angiography before the procedure.Results: Aneurysms of all patients were successfully occluded (technical success rate 100%). Procedure-related complications were seen in two patients. Our comprehensive literature research revealed that studies related with the topic are composed mostly of case reports. In the literature, a total of 113 BAF aneurysms of 101 patients had been treated endovascularly in 46 studies between 1993 and 2019. Success rate of the treatment was reported as 97%, clinical success rate as 91%, and complication rate as 8.8%, while these rates are 100%, 92%, and 7.6% in our study, respectively.
Conclusion:Although the number of cases is low in our study, to our knowledge, it is the widest series in the li...