Propensity Score Analysis of Flow Diverters Placed in Scaffolding Stents

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Flow-diverter deployment within a stent remains controversial, but flow-diverter deployment within a scaffolding stent has been performed occasionally. To date, an analysis of this scaffolding technique has not been reported. We aimed to evaluate whether the scaffolding technique adversely affects the outcomes of flow diversion. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients who had undergone intracranial aneurysm treatment using a Silk flow diverter with (scaffolding group) or without (bare flow-diverter group) a scaffolding stent were identified retrospectively and compared. Propensity score matching was used to match the aneurysms in both groups for variables with a significant difference between groups. Aneurysm occlusion rates and clinical outcomes were compared.