Stent retriever expansion as a corrective maneuver to optimize inadequately deployed flow diverter stents.

Background and purpose: As flow diversion (FD) is becoming increasingly important in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms, the rate of technical complications is also increasing. Inadequate FD implantation may lead to both ischemic complications and decreased treatment efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of off-label stent retriever (SR) use in managing technical complications associated with FD implantation.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of data from patients who underwent FD treatment at two neuroradiology centers was performed. The objective was to identify cases in which the FD was inadequately deployed and SR expansion was performed as a corrective maneuver. The analysis included anatomic characteristics, technical information, angiographic and clinical outcomes, and complications.

Results: A total of 35 corrective maneuvers with SR were performed in 25 FD treatments. The corrective maneuvers in all treatments were successful, and no additional devices or therapies were required. No procedural complications or technical difficulties were documented.

Conclusion: With the growing role of FDs in neurointerventional treatment, familiarity with corrective maneuvers after technical complications or inadequate implantation is important. The findings in our selected cohort demonstrated that SR expansion is an effective and safe corrective maneuver for incompletely opened FDs.