Radiology, Vol 171, 471-474, Copyright © 1989 by Radiological Society of North America
Laser-induced thermal occlusion of berry aneurysms: initial experimental results
GV O'Reilly, MD Forrest, WC Schoene and RH Clarke
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA.
An intravascular laser-catheter technique was used to occlude 12
experimental berry aneurysms, ranging in size from 4 X 3 mm to 8 X 6 mm
(length X width), while the patency of adjacent arteries was preserved. A
small steel cap on the end of an optical fiber was fluoroscopically
positioned within the aneurysm. The cap was rapidly heated by the optical
transmission of laser energy. This produced a thermal tissue reaction
within the aneurysm, resulting in its occlusion. After treatment, the steel
cap was detached atraumatically from the fiber and left as a permanent
implant within the occluded aneurysm. This method has an advantage over the
use of a bare-ended intravascular optical fiber because the steel cap
provides a uniform distribution of thermal energy, thereby reducing the
risk of unexpected perforation during treatment. The radiologic and
histologic results of using this laser- catheter system were evaluated 1-21
weeks after treatment.
