Changes in the intraaneurysmal pressure due to HydroCoil embolization.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in the intraaneurysmal fluid pressure and parent vessel flow characteristics resulting from packing the aneurysmal sac with hydrogel-coated coils. METHODS Platinum coils coated with an expansible hydrogel were used to embolize a silicone model of the basilar tip aneurysm. The intraaneurysmal fluid pressure was measured with a NeuroCare Camino Pressure Micro-Probe at various packing ratios. A programmable pulsatile pump was used to input a physiologically relevant pulsatile flow in the parent artery. RESULTS The intraaneurysmal fluid pressure did not increase when packing the aneurysm with hydrogel-coated platinum coils, even with a coil density up to 93%. CONCLUSION Packing the aneurysm with hydrogel-coated coils at a density up to 93% did not increase the intraaneurysmal fluid pressure.