Background: A new and relatively simple endovascular technique, in which more than three microcatheters are used for endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms for the first time, is described.
Method: Eight patients with wide necked aneurysms were successfully treated with detachable coils using the multiple microcatheter technique. Three patients presented with subarachnoid haemorrhage and five were unruptured. The aneurysm locations were superior hypophyseal artery (2), posterior communicating artery (2), middle cerebral artery bifurcation (1), distal anterior cerebral artery (1), basilar artery (1) and vertebral artery (1). The average neck size was 7.4 +/- 2.8 mm (3.5-12 mm), average width of the aneurysms was 10.6 +/- 5.7 mm (6.2-23 mm) and depth was 8.9 +/- 5.8 mm (3-22 mm). Three microcatheters (7 patients) and four microcatheters (1 patient) were introduced and used for coil delivery. Three or four coils were deployed and intermingled to stabilize the whole coil mass as well as to occupy the aneurysmal sac. When a relatively stable coil frame was formed, one coil was detached and subsequent coils were inserted. After the coil mass became more stable, other coils were also detached and all microcatheters were used for subsequent coil deployment.
Findings: All aneurysms were successfully treated without complications. Postemboilzation angiograms showed no contrast filling in 5 cases (100% occlusion) and a very small residual neck in 3 cases. There was no procedure related complication.
Conclusion: The multiple microcatheter technique can be one technical option for the endovascular treatment of wide necked aneurysms.