Electrothrombosis of saccular aneurysms via endovascular approach Part 1: Electrochemical basis, technique, and experimental results

Eleven experimental saccular aneurysms were created on the common carotid a rtery of swine. Between 3 and 15 days after creation of there aneurysms, th ey were thrombosed via an endovascular approach, using a very soft detachab le platinum coil delivered through a microcatheter positioned within the an eurysm. This detachable platinum coil was soldered to a stainless steel del ivery guidewire. lntra-aneurysmal thrombosis was then initiated by applying a low positive direct electric current to the delivery guidewire; Thrombos is occurred because of the attraction of negatively charged white blood cel ls, red blond cells, platelets, and fibrinogen to the positively charged pl atinum coil positioned within the aneurysm. The passage of electric current detached the platinum coil within the clotted aneurysm in 4 to 12 minutes. This detachment was elicited by electrolysis of the stainless steel wire n earest to the thrombus-covered platinum coil. control angiograms obtained 2 to 6 months postembolization confirmed permanent aneurysm occlusion as wel l as patency of the parent artery in all cases. No angiographic manifestati on of untoward distal embolization was noted. Due to the encouraging result s of this research, this technique has been applied in selected clinical ca ses which are described in Part 2 of this study.