Anterograde recanalization of a ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm with endovascular trapping treatment: A case report

Abstract

Recanalization of a completely occluded vertebral artery, which involves ruptured vertebral dissecting aneurysm, to a normal configuration is rare. Here we report the case of a recanalized vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm in a 51-year-old woman that was treated using endovascular trapping and the right vertebral artery was completely occluded. Six months after the procedure, transfemoral cerebral artery angiography showed a normal configuration of the antegrade recanalized vertebral artery. We also suggest three possible mechanisms for the phenomenon of antegrade recanalization, of which we consider the water-hammer effect mechanism to be the most probable. Endovascular trapping, regardless of the presence of a true or false lumen, is capable of providing promising results and good prognosis through antegrade revascularization or complete occlusion.