Endovascular treatment is technically challenging as distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms have distal location, small-caliber parent artery, and small size/wide neck. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of the transradial approach (TRA) with a radial-specific neurointerventional guiding sheath as the first-line technique for DACA aneurysms.

We retrospectively analyzed an institutional database of consecutive patients with DACA aneurysm who underwent coil embolization using TRA. Ten consecutive patients were included in this study. After the radial-specific 6F Simmons guiding sheath (0.088″ inner diameter) was completely engaged into the target common carotid artery, a quadraxial system (6F Simmons guiding sheath/6F intermediate catheter/3.2F intermediate catheter/single microcatheter) was used for embolization. Then, we assessed for procedural success, angiographic outcomes, and procedure-related or vascular access site complications.

Embolization procedures were conducted using simple coiling in eight and stent-assisted coiling with the trans-cell approach in two patients. The embolization procedure was successful in all patients (n = 10). Moreover, none presented with catheter kinking, parent artery flow stagnation, or system instability during the procedure. Immediate postprocedural angiography revealed complete obliteration in six and residual neck in four patients. Then, eight patients underwent follow-up angiography at a mean of 7.1 months, and none developed recanalization or required retreatment. The postprocedural course was uneventful, and there were no complications.

The transradial quadraxial system had the ability to achieve sufficient stability and kink resistance in DACA aneurysm embolization. Thus, this method was feasible and safe and had a high success rate.