Treatment of intracranial aneurysm with pipeline flow diversion stent

Abstract

The introduction of the flow diverter induced a major paradigm shift in the treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms because of its efficacy and treatment durability. Using a flow diverter enables the complete reconstruction of the diseased segment of the intracranial artery harboring a giant aneurysm rather than treating the aneurysm itself. A proper understanding of the current flow diverter technology particularly its pros and cons, is the key to incorporating it into the conventional treatment options. Additionally sharing the knowledge acquired through clinical experience is an important factor to improve the procedural safety. The ability to anticipate the technical difficulty and the risk associated with flow diverter treatment in each case is an essential part of the requisite skillset, as much as the technical part. Continuous device improvements and compiling good quality clinical data will increase the role of flow diverter in the treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms.