Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of balloon-assisted packing with a mixture of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA), Lipiodol, and ethanol for wide-neck aneurysms.
Materials and methods: Of 10 carotid aneurysms with wide necks created in a swine model, 3 aneurysms (long and short diameters 10.9 × 9.8 mm; neck width 8.3 ± 1.2 mm (mean ± SD)) and 7 aneurysms (11.2 × 9.5 mm; neck width 8.3 ± 1.4 mm) were packed with a mixture of NBCA, Lipiodol, and ethanol in the ratios 1:1:0 (NL11) and 1:1:2 (NLE112), respectively. A microcatheter was advanced into the aneurysm and a balloon catheter was inflated at the aneurysm neck. Ten minutes after injection, the balloon catheter was deflated and its removal was attempted.
Results: For all three aneurysms in the NL11 group, the balloon catheter and the microcatheter adhered strongly to the vessel and could not be adjusted. For all seven aneurysms in the NLE112 group, both the balloon catheter and the microcatheter could be easily removed, which enabled successful full packing of the aneurysm by re-advancing the microcatheter and re-injecting NLE112 after re-inflation of the balloon catheter.
Conclusion: Although at a preliminary stage, balloon-assisted NLE injection is feasible for packing a wide-neck aneurysm.