Use of a Wire-Directed Microcatheter,without Guiding Catheter or Introducer,to Perform Both Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroradiologic Procedures in Neonates and Infants

Abstract

Performing both diagnostic angiography and endovascular treatments in infants and neonates may be a challenge. The choice of materials represents one of the major difficulties. We present two cases of newborns and one of an infant in which an on-the-wire microcatheter with hydrophilic coating was used without any guiding catheter nor sheath in the management of three different pathologies.

A 24 gauge cannula, a 0.014-inch micro-guidewire and a hydrophilic-coated wire-directed microcatheter (Tracker Excel 14, Boston Scientific/Target Therapeutics, Freemont, CA, USA) where the only tools used to perform angiographies and subsequent treatments. One of the patients had a rapidly growing facial haemangioma resistant to medical therapy. One had a posterior cranial fossa pial fistula and another had a vein of Galen malformation.