Evaluation of the TriSpan neck bridge device for the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms - An experimental study in canines

Background and Purpose-Many wide-necked aneurysms are difficult or impossib le to treat with the Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC). The purpose of this s tudy was to evaluate the use of a neck bridging device, the TriSpan coil, i n combination with standard GDCs for the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms in an experimental canine aneurysm model. Methods-Of 24 experimental aneurysms in 12 animals, 19 (7 lateral and 12 te rminal) were treated with the TriSpan coil in conjunction with standard GDC s. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed on all animals immed iately after treatment. In 6 animals, follow-up DSA and histological evalua tion were performed 3 weeks after treatment. In the remaining 6, DSA was do ne at both 90 and 180 days after treatment. Histological evaluation was don e immediately after the 180-day angiographic evaluation. Results-The TriSpan was easy to use in conjunction with the standard GDC, B ecause of their geometry, some lateral aneurysms were difficult or impossib le to treat with this device. Greater than 90% aneurysm occlusion was obtai ned in all 19 aneurysms. In no instance was there evidence of coil migratio n, herniation, or aneurysm recanalization. Histological evaluation of the t issue surrounding the TriSpan coil showed tissue responses similar to that seen with standard GDCs. Conclusions-These results show that the TriSpan coil in conjunction with st andard GDCs can be used safely and effectively for the treatment of wide-ne cked aneurysms in this canine model. Positioning and deployment of the neck bridge in aneurysms having an acute angle with the long axis of their pare nt artery are difficult or impossible. It is likely that this device, used in conjunction with the standard GDC, will allow treatment of some wide-nec ked aneurysms that are not treatable with the GDC alone.