Parent Vessel Occlusion via the Balloon-Assisted, Dual Microcatheter Technique

Endovascular parent vessel sacrifice is an established technique used to treat vascular pathology and tumor infiltration of blood vessels. In high-flow vessels, such as the carotid artery or vertebral artery, distal coil migration and embolization are concerns. A method to mitigate this risk would improve the safety profile of the procedure. Five patients undergoing parent vessel sacrifice were retrospectively identified (from June 2018 to May 2019) for the purpose of illustrating this high-flow parent vessel occlusion technique. The technique utilizes a proximal dual-lumen balloon microcatheter inflated for blood flow arrest. The balloon-assisted, dual microcatheter technique is useful for occlusion of high-flow parent arteries. Because it utilizes both flow arrest and a tethered coil backstop, precise occlusion of a vessel can be achieved.