Risk Factors for Unfavorable Angiographic Outcomes after Reconstructive Endovascular Treatments of Unruptured Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and radiological features of unruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (uVADAs) treated with reconstructive endovascular techniques and to evaluate the risk factors associated with unfavorable radiological outcomes while focusing on the flow diversion effect.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 86 patients with uVADAs treated at a single tertiary center between January 2009 and December 2022. The patients were categorized into the flow diversion group (patients with uVADAs treated with a flow diverter or multiple stents) and the non-flow diversion group (patients with one or fewer stent insertion). Unfavorable angiographic outcomes were defined as 1) recurrence after coil insertion regardless of stent deployment or 2) no regression after stent insertion without coil packing. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the related risk factors.

RESULTS

We observed 37 uVADAs in the flow diversion group. Recurrence or no regression occurred in two of 37 (9.1%) and 13 of 49 (27.7%) uVADAs in the flow and non-flow diversion groups, respectively. The treatment without flow diversion effect (non-flow diversion group; odds ratio [OR], 8.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-52.57; p=0.003) and hypertension (OR, 22.09; 95% CI, 2.51-194.2; p=0.005) were significantly associated with unfavorable angiographic outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The flow diversion effect using a flow diverter or multiple stents insertion, along with strict blood pressure control, may be an important factor in achieving favorable angiographic outcomes in uVADA treatment.