Endovascular treatment modalities for basilar artery fenestration aneurysms: experience of two centers and literature review

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 literature until today. Our results demonstrate that BAF aneurysms can be treated successfully and safely with different endovascular techniques, with more stent use in recent years.

Automated summary

This study presents the experience of endovascular treatment of basilar fenestration aneurysms and compares findings with existing literature data. The technical success rate of aneurysm occlusion was 100% in the study, with a slight complication rate. Literature review showed a high success rate in endovascular treatment, with recent trends leaning towards more stent use for safe and successful treatment of BAF aneurysms.