Hemorrhagic complications related to the stent-remodeled coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postprocedural hemorrhagic complications associated with stent-remodeled coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: From the database of 163 cases of stent-remodeled therapy for wide-neck intracranial aneurysms, patients who showed intracranial hemorrhagic complications on follow-up brain imaging were selected. The initial presentation, antithrombotic medication, hemorrhagic type, location, amount, association with ventriculostomy, symptomatic involvement, and outcome were assessed. RESULTS: Ten patients (6.1%) developed intracranial hemorrhagic complications (range; 0-422 days; mean; 56 days). The hemorrhagic complication rate was higher in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (20%, 6 of 30 patients) than in patients with unruptured aneurysms (3%, 4 of 133 patients). Nine of the 10 patients were on dual-antiplatelet therapy at the time of hemorrhage development. Seven of the hemorrhages developed in patients with ventriculostomies (intraparenchymal, n = 4; subdural hematoma, n = 3). Three patients who did not receive a ventriculostomy also developed intracranial hemorrhage (n = 1) or intraparenchymal hemorrhage (n = 2). Hemorrhagic transformation in the recently infarcted brain tissue seemed to be the cause of nonventriculostomy related intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The hemorrhages were accompanied by symptomatic aggravation in 6 of 10 cases, with 5 cases resulting in moribund clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Postprocedural intracranial hemorrhage may be a risk of stent-remodeled therapy while the patient is on dual-antiplatelet medication. Extra caution is warranted especially in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring ventriculostomy or with underlying recent brain infarction.