RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Risk of Branch Occlusion and Ischemic Complications with the Pipeline Embolization Device in the Treatment of Posterior Circulation Aneurysms JF American Journal of Neuroradiology JO Am. J. Neuroradiol. FD American Society of Neuroradiology DO 10.3174/ajnr.A5696 A1 N. Adeeb A1 C.J. Griessenauer A1 A.A. Dmytriw A1 H. Shallwani A1 R. Gupta A1 P.M. Foreman A1 H. Shakir A1 J. Moore A1 N. Limbucci A1 S. Mangiafico A1 A. Kumar A1 C. Michelozzi A1 Y. Zhang A1 V.M. Pereira A1 C.C. Matouk A1 M.R. Harrigan A1 A.H. Siddiqui A1 E.I. Levy A1 L. Renieri A1 T.R. Marotta A1 C. Cognard A1 C.S. Ogilvy A1 A.J. Thomas YR 2018 UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2018/06/07/ajnr.A5696.abstract AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Flow diversion with the Pipeline Embolization Device is increasingly used for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms due to high reported obliteration rates and low associated morbidity. While obliteration of covered branches in the anterior circulation is generally asymptomatic, this has not been studied within the posterior circulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between branch coverage and occlusion, as well as associated ischemic events in a cohort of patients with posterior circulation aneurysms treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively maintained databases at 8 academic institutions from 2009 to 2016 was performed to identify patients with posterior circulation aneurysms treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device. Branch coverage following placement was evaluated, including the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, anterior inferior cerebellar artery, superior cerebellar artery, and posterior cerebral artery. If the Pipeline Embolization Device crossed the ostia of the contralateral vertebral artery, its long-term patency was assessed as well.RESULTS: A cohort of 129 consecutive patients underwent treatment of 131 posterior circulation aneurysms with the Pipeline Embolization Device. Adjunctive coiling was used in 40 (31.0%) procedures. One or more branches were covered in 103 (79.8%) procedures. At a median follow-up of 11 months, 11% were occluded, most frequently the vertebral artery (34.8%). Branch obliteration was most common among asymptomatic aneurysms (P < .001). Ischemic complications occurred in 29 (22.5%) procedures. On multivariable analysis, there was no significant difference in ischemic complications in cases in which a branch was covered (P = .24) or occluded (P = .16).CONCLUSIONS: There was a low occlusion incidence in end arteries following branch coverage at last follow-up. The incidence was higher in the posterior cerebral artery and vertebral artery where collateral supply is high. Branch occlusion was not associated with a significant increase in ischemic complications.PCAposterior cerebral arteryPEDPipeline Embolization DeviceVAvertebral artery