Nation's First Successful Implantation of New Intracranial Aneurysm Device Performed in State-of-the-Art Neuroendovascular Suite at BWH
In February 2015, Ali Aziz-Sultan, MD, Chief of Vascular/ Endovascular Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), performed the nation’s first successful implantation of the WEB™ SL device, an intra-aneurysmal device that enables endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms.
The procedure was performed in the recently opened hybrid neuroendovascular suite at BWH as part of an international clinical study. The WEB Intrasaccular Therapy (WEB-IT) study is evaluating the WEB SL device for both unruptured and ruptured wide neck intracranial bifurcation aneurysms and will enroll 150 patients at 25 sites in the United States, Canada, and Europe. BWH is one of only two sites in New England offering enrollment in this study, which builds upon previous experience with the device in European studies.
“This is among a number of new innovative endovascular approaches that we are offering for the minimally invasive treatment of aneurysms, including challenging cases where traditional approaches are not ideal due to structure or risks,” said Dr. Aziz-Sultan, the BWH Site Principal Investigator for the WEB-IT study. (For more information on this study and enrollment, please contact Bianca Belcher, MPH, PA-C, at bbelcher1@partners.org)
First Case Employs Personalized Approach
The procedure was performed in a 63-year-old woman with an unruptured aneurysm and difficult anatomy (Page 2: Image 1). Prior to the procedure, 3D printing based on computed tomography and angiography was employed to create a model of the patient’s brain, including her aneurysm. Dr. Aziz-Sultan used the model to practice the procedure and prepare a personalized approach for the patient. The WEB SL device bridges the neck of an intracranial aneurysm and disrupts the inflow of blood, causing hemostasis within the aneurysm sac and leading to thrombus formation within the implant (Page 2: Image 2).
Benefits of a Hybrid Suite
The state-of-the-art hybrid neuroendovascular suite at BWH, one of the first of its kind in the U.S., provides the flexibility to perform minimally invasive neurointerventional approaches and open neurosurgical procedures in the same setting for a wide range of cerebrovascular diseases and conditions. Treatment teams are able to quickly change direction if a different approach is needed during an individual case. The suite is particularly useful in treatment of patients with stroke and other emergent cases.
“Traditionally, endovascular and open neurosurgical procedures are performed in entirely different environments, resulting in significant time delays if both approaches are required for a patient,” said Dr. Aziz-Sultan. “The time saved in a hybrid suite can make a significant difference in the patient’s outcome.”
- Ali Aziz-Sultan, MD
Chief, Vascular/Endovascular Neurosurgery
