Flow diversion treatment: intra-aneurismal blood flow velocity and WSS reduction are parameters to predict aneurysm thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the haemodynamic changes induced by flow diversion treatment in cerebral aneurysms, resulting in thrombosis or persisting aneurysm patency over time. METHOD: Eight patients with aneurysms at the para-ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery were treated by flow diversion only. The clinical follow-up ranged between 6 days and 12 months. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of pre- and post-treatment conditions was performed in all cases. True geometric models of the flow diverter were created and placed over the neck of the aneurysms by using a virtual stent-deployment technique, and the device was simulated as a true physical barrier. Pre- and post-treatment haemodynamics were compared, including mean and maximal velocities, wall-shear stress (WSS) and intra-aneurysmal flow patterns. The CFD study results were then correlated to angiographic follow-up studies. RESULTS: Mean intra-aneurysmal flow velocities and WSS were significantly reduced in all aneurysms. Changes in flow patterns were recorded in only one case. Seven of eight aneurysms showed complete occlusion during the follow-up. One aneurysm remaining patent after 1 year showed no change in flow patterns. One aneurysm rupturing 5 days after treatment showed also no change in flow pattern, and no change in the maximal inflow velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Relative flow velocity and WSS reduction in and of itself may result in aneurysm thrombosis in the majority of cases. Flow reductions under aneurysm-specific thresholds may, however, be the reason why some aneurysms remain completely or partially patent after flow diversion.

Effect of flow diverter porosity on intraaneurysmal blood flow.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Growth and rupture, the two events that dominate the evolution of an intracranial aneurysm, are both dependent on intraaneurysmal flow. Decrease of intraaneurysmal flow is considered an attractive alternative for treating intracranial aneurysms by minimally invasive techniques. Such modification can be achieved by inserting stents or flow diverters alone. In the present paper, the effect of different commercial and innovative flow diverters' porosity was studied in intracranial aneurysm models. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Single and stent-in-stent combination of Neuroform II as well as single and stent-in-stent combination of a new innovative, low-porosity, intracranial stent device (D1, D2, D1 + D2) were inserted in models of intracranial aneurysms under shear-driven flow and inertia-driven flow configurations. Steady and pulsating flow rates were applied using a blood-like fluid. Particle image velocimetry was used to measure velocity vector fields in the aneurysm midplane along the vessel axis. Flow and vorticity patterns, velocity and vorticity magnitudes were quantified and their value compared with the same flows in absence of the flow diverter. RESULTS: In absence of flow diverters, a solid-like rotation could be observed in both shear-driven and inertia-driven models under steady and pulsatile flow conditions. The flow effects due to the insertion of low-porous devices such as D1 or D2 provoked a complete alteration of the flow patterns and massive reduction of velocity or vorticity magnitudes, whereas the introduction of clinically adopted high-porous devices provoked less effect in the aneurysm cavity. As expected, results showed that the lower the porosity the larger the reduction in velocity and vorticity within the aneurysm cavity. The lowest-porosity device combination (D1 and D2) reached an averaged reduction of flow parameters of 80% and 88% under steady and pulsatile flow conditions, respectively. The reduction in mean velocity and vorticity was much more significant in the shear-driven flows as compared to the inertia-driven flows. CONCLUSION: Although device porosity is the main parameter influencing flow reduction, other parameters such as device design and local flow conditions may influence the level of flow reduction within intracranial aneurysms.

Subtracted vortex centers path line method with cinematic angiography for measurement of flow speed in cerebral aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The assessment of blood flow speed by imaging modalities is of increasing importance for endovascular treatment, such as stent implantation, of cerebral aneurysms. The subtracted vortex centers path line method (SVC method) utilizes image post-processing for determining flow quantitatively. In current practice, intra-aneurysmal flow in an in vitro model is visualized by laser sheet translumination and digitally recorded. In this study, we applied this method to cinematic angiography (CA), which is the preferred imaging method for endovascular interventions, to analyse hemodynamic changes. The SVC method was applied to the images and compared with results of the slipstream line method with colored fluid. METHODS: A transparent tubular model was constructed of silicone which included an aneurysm 10 mm in diameter and having a 5 mm neck on a straight parent artery with a diameter of 3.5 mm. The model was integrated into a pulsatile circulation system. By CA, successive images at 25 frames/s with injection of contrast were obtained. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Rotating vortexes of contrast, which advanced along the wall of the aneurysm, were observed in successive images of the aneurysm cavity. This phenomenon was also observed in the successive images with the slipstream line method. The speed of the vortex center was calculated and the results show that the vortex speed of CA was the same as that under the slipstream line method. This indicates the possibility of applying the SVC method to medical imaging equipment for analysis of the flow in aneurysms containing stent.

Fast virtual deployment of self-expandable stents: method and in vitro evaluation for intracranial aneurysmal stenting.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive treatment approaches, like the implantation of percutaneous stents, are becoming more popular every day for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The outcome of such treatments is related to factors like vessel and aneurysm geometry, hemodynamic conditions and device design. For this reason, having a tool for assessing stenting alternatives beforehand is crucial. METHODOLOGY: The Fast Virtual Stenting (FVS) method, which provides an estimation of the configuration of intracranial stents when released in realistic geometries, is proposed in this paper. This method is based on constrained simplex deformable models. The constraints are used to account for the stent design. An algorithm for its computational implementation is also proposed. The performance of the proposed methodology was contrasted with real stents released in a silicone phantom. RESULTS: In vitro experiments were performed on the phantom where a contrast injection was performed. Subsequently, corresponding Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyzes were carried out on a digital replica of the phantom with the virtually released stent. Virtual angiographies are used to compare in vitro experiments and CFD analysis. Contrast time-density curves for in vitro and CFD data were generated and used to compare them. CONCLUSIONS: Results of both experiments resemble very well, especially when comparing the contrast density curves. The use of FVS methodology in the clinical environment could provide additional information to clinicians before the treatment to choose the therapy that best fits the patient.

Effect of flow diversion treatment on very small ruptured aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Ruptured aneurysms of < 2 mm are not amenable to endovascular coiling and therefore pose a significant treatment challenge. OBJECTIVE: To test recently introduced flow diverters that allow endovascular reconstruction via another method and may represent a new treatment option for such lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three female patients presented with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. An aneurysm of < 2 mm was identified in all patients as the cause of bleeding. The aneurysms were located at the C2 segment of the internal carotid in 2 patients and on the basilar bifurcation in the other. All patients had failed early endovascular treatment attempts. Flow diversion with the SILK flow diverter was offered as an alternative in each patient. RESULTS: SILK deployment successfully eliminated the aneurysms in all 3 instances. One of the aneurysms was excluded from contrast material visualization immediately after stent deployment. Transient thrombotic complication was observed in the case of the basilar artery aneurysm. It resolved with the administration of intraarterial tirofiban. There was no treatment-related morbidity, and none of the aneurysms reruptured after SILK implantation during a clinical follow-up of at least 4 months (range, 4-10 months). Imaging follow-up showed complete vessel remodeling in all cases. CONCLUSION: Flow diversion treatment prevented rebleeding during the follow-up period. Reverse remodeling of the concerned vascular segment with delayed disappearance of the aneurysm was observed in each case.

Treatment of renal artery aneurysm with the multilayer stent.

PURPOSE: To describe a new type of stent consisting of a 3-dimensional (3D) braided tube made of 2 interconnected layers without any covering to treat a renal artery aneurysm. CASE REPORT: A 78-year-old hypertensive man with multiple comorbidities was incidentally found to have a large (28- x 30 mm) saccular aneurysm in the main right renal artery involving the inferior renal artery. Via a percutaneous femoral approach, a 6- x 30-mm Multilayer stent was deployed easily in front of the aneurysm neck covering the inferior renal artery. Blood flow inside the sac was immediately and significantly reduced. All the renal artery branches remained patent. Blood pressure returned to normal after the procedure. At 6 months, angiography showed complete shrinkage of the aneurysm wall; all the inferior renal artery branches remained patent. CONCLUSION: The 3D multilayer fluid modulating stent concept appears to be a viable alternative for renal aneurysm exclusion. A larger study is underway to evaluate this new stent in other peripheral aneurysms.

Preclinical testing of a new clot-retrieving wire device using polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel vascular models.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral embolism is the principal cause of cerebral infarction. Recently, mechanical embolectomy has been proposed as an effective method. We performed a preclinical evaluation of a new mechanical clot-retrieving wire. METHODS: This clot-retrieving wire consisted of three nitinol loops at the tip of a microguidewire. These three loops could be collapsed into a 0.018-inch wire compatible microcatheter. Each loop was 8 mm long and 3.5 mm wide. For simulation, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) vascular anatomical models of the human carotid (eight models) and vertebrobasilar (three models) circulation were constructed. A pulsatile flow circulation system was used. Embolic clots were produced using pig blood plasma. The microcatheter and the microguidewire were advanced beyond the clot. The wire was then exchanged for the retrieving wire. The microcatheter was then pulled slightly back to open the loops. The clot was then caught by withdrawal of the system. Once caught, the clot was retrieved to the guiding catheter tip. We investigated the following points: ease of device deployment, clot capture ability, clot removal against blood flow and removal of the clot out of the introducer system. RESULTS: A total of 104 procedures were performed in 11 PVA models and evaluated. The drop rate was 19%. We succeeded in partial and total recanalization in 51.0% of the procedures (53/104) within 30 minutes. CONCLUSION: This new clot-retrieving wire could be useful for mechanical clot extraction in stroke.