Hemodynamic analysis and implantation strategies of delayed intracranial aneurysm rupture after flow diverter treatment.

Background: Delayed aneurysm rupture after flow diverters (FDs) is a serious complication which mechanism remains unclear. The hemodynamics of FDs with proximal or distal densification implantation strategies have rarely been reported. In this study, we investigated not only the hemodynamic factors involved in postoperative rupture, but also the hemodynamic effects of different FDs implantation strategies on avoiding this complication.

Methods: We selected 2 internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms with similar morphological characteristics, both of which were treated with FDs but had opposite therapeutic outcomes (Case 1, ruptured after FD treatment; Case 2, recovered). The FDs strategies we designed were strategy A [with homogeneous 30% metal coverage ratio (MCR)], strategy B (with distal densification of 40% and proximal 30% MCR) and strategy C (with proximal densification of 40% and distal 30% MCR). Virtually FDs deployment and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method were performed to simulate FDs implantation strategies and analyze the hemodynamics associated with postoperative rupture.

Results: After FDs implantation, the velocity of blood entering the aneurysm decreased (Case 1, 25.4%; Case 2, 30.6%), but the inflow jet impingement still existed in Case 1. The overall WSS decreased similarly in both cases, but the high WSS region hardly diminished in Case 1. For overall wall pressure, Case 2 decreased slightly but increased in Case 1. Of the three FDs implantation strategies, strategy C had the best hemodynamic effects, including the maximum blood velocity reduction and a tendency to form a more stable flow pattern, the maximum reduction rate of overall WSS and the effective diminish of high WSS area as well as the overall decrease of wall pressure.

Conclusions: Not significant decrease of blood flow velocity entering the aneurysm adding persistent impact of inflow jet impingement, high WSS area that did not diminish and abnormal increase of pressure on the aneurysm wall may be causative of postoperative rupture and bleeding of ICA aneurysms. In addition, the hemodynamic effects were favorable when the FD was improved to proximal densification, which may reduce the risk of delayed aneurysm rupture following FDs treatment.

Keywords: Delayed rupture; flow diverter (FD); computational fluid dynamics (CFD); intracranial aneurysm (IAs); internal carotid artery (ICA).