When Two Is Better than One: The Buddy-wire Technique in Flow-diversion Procedures

BACKGROUND: Delivery of most flow diverters (FD) requires larger, and thus stiffer microcatheters (0.021–0.027in.) which can pose challenges to intracranial navigation. The concomitant use of two microwires within one microcatheter, also known as the buddy-wire technique, may be helpful for navigation and support in challenging situations. METHODS: We analyzed all flow diverter procedures in our prospectively collected database. We recorded all patient-related, anatomical and procedural information. We performed univariate statistics and technical descriptions. RESULTS: In total, 208 consecutive patients treated with a FD at our institution between July 2014 and August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. In 17 patients the buddy-wire technique was used (mean age 63 years, range 31–87 years: 16 female). Aneurysms were located at the petrous, cavernous, supraophthalmic internal carotid artery, and a proximal M2 branch in 2, 7, 7 and 1 patient(s), respectively. In all cases a 0.027in. microcatheter was used for device deployment. In 14 patients with a wide-necked aneurysm the buddy-wire provided additional support to advance the microcatheter and mitigated the ledge between the aneurysm neck and the parent artery or a side branch. In two giant cavernous aneurysms treated with telescoping FDs, the buddy-wire was used to re-enter the proximal end of the foreshortened FD. CONCLUSION: The buddy-wire is a useful technique in FD procedures to prevent herniation of the microcatheter into the aneurysm sack, in wide-necked aneurysms to mitigate the ledge effect between the aneurysm neck and the parent artery where the microcatheter tip may get stuck, or to enable re-entry into a foreshortened FD.