The complications of the Pipeline embolization device in treating complex cerebral aneurysm

Objective: To evaluate the complications of the Pipeline embolization device in treating complex cerebral aneurysm. Methods: Consecutive data of 53 patients who suffered from complex cerebral aneurysm and underwent Pipeline device treatment were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Clinical and imaging data including aneurysm location, type, size and the using of coils, were recorded to investigate the complications. Results: Pipeline embolization device was successfully implanted, and 27 patients were combined with coils. Five complications occurred in the 1-month perioperative stage, of which, 1 was disable and 1 was fatal. Two non-disability complications occurred in the later stage beyond 1 month, of which, 1 was cerebral infraction and 1 was intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the posterior circulation location, types, large size and the using of coils were not statistically significant risk factors for complications. The median imaging follow-up for 43 patients with 58 aneurysms was 6 months, the complete and sub-complete occlusion rate of aneurysms was 74.1% (43/58) and 3 non-symptomatic stenosis occurred in the patients with Pipeline embolization device. Conclusions: The occlusion rate of Pipeline embolization device in treating Chinese complex cerebral aneurysm is high, but another further research should be done for the mechanism and the prevention methods of the complications. (authors)