Embolic Materials' Comparison in Meningeal Artery Embolization for Chronic Subdural Hematomas: Multicenter Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of 1070 Cases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multiple preferences exist for embolic materials selection in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma with limited comparative literature data. Herein, we compare different embolic materials. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing MMAE for chronic subdural hematoma at 14 North-American centers (2018-2023) were classified into 3 groups: (a) particles, (b) Onyx, (c) n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA). The end points were unplanned rescue surgery, radiographic success (≥50% reduction in hematoma thickness at last imaging "minimum of 2 weeks"), and major complications. Initial unmatched analysis compared the 3 groups; subsequent propensity score matching (PSM) compared particles vs liquid embolics (groups b and c combined). Additional subgroup PSM analyses compared particles vs Onyx, particles vs n-BCA, and Onyx vs n-BCA. All matched analyses controlled for age, sex, concurrent surgery, previous surgery, hematoma thickness, midline shift, pretreatment antithrombotics, and baseline modified Rankin Scale. RESULTS: Eight hundred and seventy-two patients (median age 73 years, 72.9% males) underwent 1070 MMAE procedures. Onyx was most used (41.4%), then particles (40.3%) and n-BCA (15.5%). Surgical rescue rates were comparable between particles, Onyx, and n-BCA (9.8% vs 7% vs 11.7%, respectively, P = .14). Similarly, radiographic success (78.8% vs 79.3% vs 77.4%; P = .91) and major complications (2.4% vs 2.3% vs 2.5%; P = .83) were comparable. The PSM comparing particles vs liquid generated 128 matched pairs; general anesthesia and bilateral procedures were significantly higher in particles (37.8% vs 21.3%; P = .004 and 39.8% vs 27.3%; P = .034, respectively). No differences in surgical rescue, radiographic improvement, or major complications were noted (P > .05). Concurrently, PSM comparing particles vs Onyx, particles vs n-BCA, and Onyx vs n-BCA, resulted in 112, 42, and 40 matched pairs, respectively, without differences in surgical rescue, radiographic success, or major complications (P > .05). CONCLUSION: We found no differences in radiological improvement, surgical rescue, or major complications between embolic materials in MMAE. Current randomized trials are exclusively using liquid embolics, and these data suggest that future trials involving particles are likely to produce similar outcomes.

Effect of singular value decomposition on removing injection variability in 2D quantitative angiography: An in silico and in vitro phantoms study.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative 2D quantitative angiography (QA) for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) has accuracy challenges due to the variability of hand injections. Despite the success of singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithms in reducing biases in computed tomography perfusion (CTP), their application in 2D QA has not been extensively explored. This study seeks to bridge this gap by investigating the potential of SVD-based deconvolution methods in 2D QA, particularly in addressing the variability of injection durations. PURPOSE: Building on the identified limitations in QA, the study aims to adapt SVD-based deconvolution techniques from CTP to QA for IAs. This adaptation seeks to capitalize on the high temporal resolution of QA, despite its two-dimensional nature, to enhance the consistency and accuracy of hemodynamic parameter assessment. The goal is to develop a method that can reliably assess hemodynamic conditions in IAs, independent of injection variables, for improved neurovascular diagnostics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included three internal carotid aneurysm (ICA) cases. Virtual angiograms were generated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for three physiologically relevant inlet velocities to simulate contrast media injection durations. Time-density curves (TDCs) were produced for both the inlet and aneurysm dome. Various SVD variants, including standard SVD (sSVD) with and without classical Tikhonov regularization, block-circulant SVD (bSVD), and oscillation index SVD (oSVD), were applied to virtual angiograms. The method was applied on virtual angiograms to recover the aneurysmal dome impulse response function (IRF) and extract flow related parameters such as Peak Height PHIRF, Area Under the Curve AUCIRF, and Mean transit time MTT. Next, correlations between QA parameters, injection duration, and inlet velocity were assessed for unconvolved and deconvolved data for all SVD methods. Additionally, we performed an in vitro study, to complement our in silico investigation. We generated a 2D DSA using a flow circuit design for a patient-specific internal carotid artery phantom. The DSA showcases factors like x-ray artifacts, noise, and patient motion. We evaluated QA parameters for the in vitro phantoms using different SVD variants and established correlations between QA parameters, injection duration, and velocity for unconvolved and deconvolved data. RESULTS: The different SVD algorithm variants showed strong correlations between flow and deconvolution-adjusted QA parameters. Furthermore, we found that SVD can effectively reduce QA parameter variability across various injection durations, enhancing the potential of QA analysis parameters in neurovascular disease diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSION: Implementing SVD-based deconvolution techniques in QA analysis can enhance the precision and reliability of neurovascular diagnostics by effectively reducing the impact of injection duration on hemodynamic parameters.

The power of social media: broader Twitter outreach and higher Altmetric scores significantly amplify neurosurgical citation reach.

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to quantify the role of social media-related academic activity through use of the Altmetric score (a composite score based on social media attention from a variety of sources) and investigate its potential impact on the number of citations received at 3 years postpublication (articles published between January 2019 and December 2019). METHODS: Articles published in the top 12 neurosurgical journals according to Google Scholar (based on 5-year Web of Science impact factors, 2017-2021) were identified. Data collected included days since publication, Altmetric scores, and total number of tweets (posts), and 3-year citations were obtained from Google Scholar. A multiple linear regression model was created that featured a blocking method to stratify confounding variables from most to least contributing. Furthermore, the data were dichotomized by publications with ≥ 10 citations (top 25th percentile) and those with < 10 to analyze the impact of the score on total number of citations received at 3 years, using an independent-samples Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Among 6721 included articles, the mean Altmetric score was 3.76 ± 15.69 and the mean number of citations received was 9.61 ± 22.16. When accounting for relevant control variables, the Altmetric score was a significant predictor of the total number of citations accumulated at 3 years (variability of 10.17%). On statistical testing, the Altmetric score was significantly higher in publications with ≥ 10 citations (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The authors report a strong, statistically significant correlation between the Altmetric score and the number of citations received. To their knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the impact of social media academic activity on neurosurgery article citation dissemination, potentially influencing resident medical education.

Endovascular Treatment for Complex Vascular Pathologies in the Pediatric Population: Experience from a Center with Dual-Trained Neurosurgeons.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular treatment of complex vascular pathologies in the pediatric population is often performed by nonpediatric subspecialists with adaptation of equipment and techniques developed for adult patients. We aimed to report our center's experience with safety and outcomes of endovascular treatments for pediatric vascular pathologies. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of our endovascular database. All patients ≤18 years who underwent endovascular treatment between January 1, 2004 and December 1, 2022 were included. RESULTS: During the study time frame, 118 cerebral angiograms were performed for interventional purposes in 55 patients. Of these patients, 8(14.5%) had intracranial aneurysms, 21(38.2%) had intracranial arteriovenous malformations, 6(10.9%) had tumors, 5(9.1%) had arterial occlusions (n = 3) or dissections (n = 2), 8(14.5%) had vein of Galen malformations, and 7(12.7%) had other cerebrovascular conditions. Of the total 118 procedures, access-site complications occurred in 2(1.7%), intraprocedural complications occurred in 3(2.5%), and transient neurological deficits were observed after 2(1.7%). Treatment-related mortality occurred in 1(1.8%) patient. CONCLUSIONS: Neurointervention in pediatric patients was safe and effective in our experience.

Comparative Efficacy of Flow Diverter Devices in the Treatment of Carotid Sidewall Intracranial Aneurysms: a Retrospective, Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The comparative efficacy and safety of first-generation flow diverters (FDs), Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) (Medtronic, Irvine, California), Silk (Balt Extrusion, Montmorency, France), Flow Re-direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) (Microvention, Tustin, California), and Surpass Streamline (Stryker Neurovascular, Fremont, California), is not directly established and largely inferred. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of different FDs in treating sidewall ICA intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively maintained databases from eighteen academic institutions from 2009-2016, comprising 444 patients treated with one of four devices for sidewall ICA aneurysms. Data on demographics, aneurysm characteristics, treatment outcomes, and complications were analyzed. Angiographic and clinical outcomes were assessed using various imaging modalities and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Propensity score weighting was employed to balance confounding variables. The data analysis used Kaplan-Meier curves, logistic regression, and Cox proportional-hazards regression. RESULTS: While there were no significant differences in retreatment rates, functional outcomes (mRS 0-1), and thromboembolic complications between the four devices, the probability of achieving adequate occlusion at the last follow-up was highest in Surpass device (HR: 4.59; CI: 2.75-7.66, p < 0.001), followed by FRED (HR: 2.23; CI: 1.44-3.46, p < 0.001), PED (HR: 1.72; CI: 1.10-2.70, p = 0.018), and Silk (HR: 1.0 ref. standard). The only hemorrhagic complications were with Surpass (1%). CONCLUSION: All the first-generation devices achieved good clinical outcomes and retreatment rates in treating ICA sidewall aneurysms. Prospective studies are needed to explore the nuanced differences between these devices in the long term.

Femoral versus radial access for middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematomas: multicenter propensity score matched study.

BACKGROUND: With transradial access (TRA) being more progressively used in neuroendovascular procedures, we compared TRA with transfemoral access (TFA) in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing MMAE for cSDH at 14 North American centers (2018-23) were included. TRA and TFA groups were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) controlling for: age, sex, concurrent surgery, previous surgery, hematoma thickness and side, midline shift, and pretreatment antithrombotics. The primary outcome was access site and overall complications, and procedure duration; secondary endpoints were surgical rescue, radiographic improvement, and technical success and length of stay. RESULTS: 872 patients (median age 73 years, 72.9% men) underwent 1070 MMAE procedures (54% TFA vs 46% TRA). Access site hematoma occurred in three TFA cases (0.5%; none required operative intervention) versus 0% in TRA (P=0.23), and radial-to-femoral conversion occurred in 1% of TRA cases. TRA was more used in right sided cSDH (58.4% vs 44.8%; P<0.001). Particle embolics were significantly higher in TFA while Onyx was higher in TRA (P<0.001). Following PSM, 150 matched pairs were generated. Particles were more utilized in the TFA group (53% vs 29.7%) and Onyx was more utilized in the TRA group (56.1% vs 31.5%) (P=0.001). Procedural duration was longer in the TRA group (median 68.5 min (IQR 43.1-95) vs 59 (42-84); P=0.038), and radiographic success was higher in the TFA group (87.3% vs 77.4%; P=0.036). No differences were noted in surgical rescue (8.4% vs 10.1%, P=0.35) or technical failures (2.4% vs 2%; P=0.67) between TFA and TRA. Sensitivity analysis in the standalone MMAE retained all associations but differences in procedural duration. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, TRA offered comparable outcomes to TFA in MMAE for cSDH in terms of access related and overall complications, technical feasibility, and functional outcomes. Procedural duration was slightly longer in the TRA group, and radiographic success was higher in the TFA group, with no differences in surgical rescue rates.

First Reported Series of Cerebral Angiography Performed at an Outpatient Center: Safety and Satisfaction Results.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly common venues for same-day neurosurgical procedures, allowing for cost-effective, high-quality patient care. We present the first and largest series of patients undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography at an ASC to demonstrate the effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of outpatient endovascular care. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography at our ASC between January 1, 2024, and May 29, 2024. Data collected included vascular access approach, procedural duration, turnover time, and periprocedural complications. Using a standardized 2-week postprocedural survey, patients were asked to provide comments and rate their subjective satisfaction from a 1 to 5 scale, with "5" being completely satisfied. All cases were performed with a physician team comprising 1 attending neuroendovascular neurosurgery and 1 neuroendovascular fellow present. Fentanyl and midazolam were administered for conscious sedation in all cases. RESULTS: Among the 67 patients included in this series, the mean procedural duration was 29.4 ± 8.6 minutes. The mean turnover time was 13.7 ± 3.6 minutes. Between transradial (46 of 67 [68.7%]) and transfemoral (21 of 67 [31.3%]) access site approaches, there were no statistically significant differences in mean procedural duration (29.4 ± 8.0 vs 29.2 ± 9.9 minutes, respectively; P = .72) or turnover time (14.0 ± 3.9 vs 12.9 ± 2.8 minutes, respectively; P = .4). No complications occurred periprocedurally or within the 2-week follow-up period. A total of 48 (71.6%) of 67 patients responded to the postprocedural survey, all of whom unanimously reported a score of "5." CONCLUSION: We found that diagnostic cerebral angiography performed at our ASC was safe and effective for patient care. In addition, all survey respondents (71.6% of those provided the survey) reported highest levels of satisfaction. The integration of neuroendovascular procedures into ASCs potentially offers a cost-effective and highly efficient option in an evolving economic landscape.

Radiomics-Based Predictive Nomogram for Assessing the Risk of Intracranial Aneurysms.

Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) has the potential to be used as an imaging biomarker for the risk stratification of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Radiomics provides a refined approach to quantify and further characterize AWE's textural features. This study examines the performance of AWE quantification combined with clinical information in detecting symptomatic IAs. Ninety patients harboring 104 IAs (29 symptomatic and 75 asymptomatic) underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI). The assessment of AWE was performed using two different methods: 3D-AWE mapping and composite radiomics-based score (RadScore). The dataset was split into training and testing subsets. The testing set was used to build two different nomograms using each modality of AWE assessment combined with patients' clinical information and aneurysm morphological data. Finally, each nomogram was evaluated on an independent testing set. A total of 22 radiomic features were significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic IAs. The 3D-AWE mapping nomogram achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 (63% accuracy, 78% sensitivity, and 58% specificity). The RadScore nomogram exhibited a better performance, achieving an AUC of 0.83 (77% accuracy, 89% sensitivity, and 73% specificity). The comprehensive analysis of IAs with the quantification of AWE data through radiomic analysis, patient clinical information, and morphological aneurysm metrics achieves a high accuracy in detecting symptomatic IA status.

An International, Multicenter Feasibility Study on Active and Continuous Irrigation With Cerebrospinal Fluid Exchange for Improving Outcomes in Cerebral Ventriculitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cerebral ventriculitis remains a challenging neurosurgical condition because of poor outcomes including mortality rates of nearly 80% and a prolonged course of treatment in survivors. Despite current conventional management, outcomes in some cases remain unsatisfactory, with no definitive therapeutic guidelines. This feasibility study aims to explore the use of a novel active, continuous irrigation and drainage system (IRRAflow [IRRAS AB]) combined with intraventricular drug delivery for patients with cerebral ventriculitis. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, international, retrospective study of patients with ventriculitis who were treated with use of the IRRAflow system. Data collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, baseline modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, and imaging findings. Catheter occlusions, infections, and shunt placement were recorded for outcome assessment, along with discharge mRS scores and in-hospital deaths. RESULTS: Four centers contributed data for a total of 21 patients who had IRRAflow placement for treatment of ventriculitis. Thirteen (61.9%) were men (mean age = 49.8 ± 14.87 years). The median baseline mRS score was 1. The median Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission was 13. The etiology of ventriculitis was iatrogenic in 12 (57.1%) patients and secondary to an abscess in 9 (42.9%). No cases reported hemorrhage or failure of IRRAflow placement. Antibiotics were administered through the IRRAflow system in 13 (61.9%) cases in addition to systemic dosing. Sixteen (76.2%) patients had significant clinical improvement and resolution of ventriculitis. Seven (33.3%) patients required shunt placement after resolution because of persistent hydrocephalus. There were 6 (28.6%) in-hospital deaths. CONCLUSION: The use of active irrigation with drainage for continuous delivery of intraventricular irrigation fluid with antibiotics led to dramatically low mortality. In our case series, it led to a marked improvement in neurological status, imaging findings, and cerebrospinal fluid profiles, making it a technically feasible and safe treatment for ventriculitis.

Efficacy of intra-arterial carboplatin and bevacizumab in the C6 rat glioma model of glioblastoma multiforme.

BACKGROUND: Utilizing an endovascular rat glioma model, this study aimed to analyze the efficacy of intra-arterial (IA) carboplatin and bevacizumab delivery with blood-brain barrier breakdown (BBBB) for glioblastoma treatment. METHODS: C6-glioma cells were stereotactically injected into the left frontal lobe of Wistar rats. Tumor growth was confirmed on day 8 via MRI. On day 9, a microcatheter was navigated under fluoroscopy from the left femoral artery to the left internal carotid artery. A volume of 2.25 mL of 25% mannitol was administered, followed by either 10 mg/kg of bevacizumab or 2.4 mg/kg of carboplatin. Serial MRI was obtained post-treatment to assess tumor response via analysis of tumor size and radiomics. Histology was analyzed after termination. RESULTS: Control tumor rats and IA mannitol treated tumor rats had fatal tumor growths, with survival until 19.75±2.21 and 36.3±15.1 days, respectively. Carboplatin and bevacizumab treated rats lived >40 days, after which they were euthanized. From serial MRI and histology, IA carboplatin treated rats exhibited tumor regression and resolution by day 35. In IA bevacizumab treated rats, there was tumor regression near the basal ganglia of the brain, closer to the IA chemotherapy injection site, which had reorganized growth patterns. From MRI, 29 unique radiomic features were significantly different between control and treated tumors (notably for total energy and skewness), and treatment responders had a distinct, early manifesting radiomic profile. CONCLUSION: IA carboplatin and bevacizumab treatment resulted in varying degrees of tumor suppression, validating the first endovascular C6 glioma model as a reliable method to assess new IA therapies.

Under Pressure: Emotional Reactions to Stress of Neurosurgeons and Neurosurgical Trainees.

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgeons demonstrate some of the highest levels of burnout among surgeons, yet little research has been done to understand the underlying stressors that neurosurgeons and trainees experience and the emotional responses to them. Our goal was to conduct a feasibility study identifying job stressors and emotional responses among neurosurgeons rather than generalize findings across the profession. METHODS: Emphasizing a qualitative approach in this feasibility and descriptive study, we strategically selected a small sample of neurosurgical attendings, residents, and fellows at 2 United States academic neurosurgical departments to ensure an in-depth analysis laying the groundwork for future extensive research. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding work-related stressors and high- and low-arousal emotional responses to these stressors, as well as a standardized Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses evaluating types of stressors and emotional responses reported were assessed based on participant training level. RESULTS: Participants identified 3 main stressors: 1) administrative deficiencies; 2) delivering bad news/saving lives; and 3) work-life balance. A low frequency of negative emotional responses was reported, but those reported were mainly high-arousal emotions. Limited prior training in coping strategies was also reported. We also found that residents, fellows, and faculty surgeons reported about work stressors and coping strategies differently. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study provide an understanding of neurosurgical professionals' unique emotional landscape, emphasizing the need for reforms in administrative practices, enhanced, healthy coping strategies, and career stage-specific mental health support.

Hybrid Clot Histomic-Transcriptomic Models Predict Functional Outcome After Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Histologic and transcriptomic analyses of retrieved stroke clots have identified features associated with patient outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated the predictive capacity of histology or expression features in isolation. Few studies, however, have investigated how paired histologic image features and expression patterns from the retrieved clots can improve understanding of clot pathobiology and our ability to predict long-term prognosis. We hypothesized that computational models trained using clot histomics and mRNA expression can predict early neurological improvement (ENI) and 90-day functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale Score, mRS) better than models developed using histological composition or expression data alone. METHODS: We performed paired histological and transcriptomic analysis of 32 stroke clots. ENI was defined as a delta-National Institutes of Health Stroke Score/Scale > 4, and a good long-term outcome was defined as mRS ≤2 at 90 days after procedure. Clots were H&E-stained and whole-slide imaged at 40×. An established digital pathology pipeline was used to extract 237 histomic features and to compute clot percent composition (%Comp). When dichotomized by either the ENI or mRS thresholds, differentially expressed genes were identified as those with absolute fold-change >1.5 and q < 0.05. Machine learning with recursive feature elimination (RFE) was used to select clot features and evaluate computational models for outcome prognostication. RESULTS: For ENI, RFE identified 9 optimal histologic and transcriptomic features for the hybrid model, which achieved an accuracy of 90.8% (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.98 ± 0.08) in testing and outperformed models based on histomics (AUC = 0.94 ± 0.09), transcriptomics (AUC = 0.86 ± 0.16), or %Comp (AUC = 0.70 ± 0.15) alone. For mRS, RFE identified 7 optimal histomic and transcriptomic features for the hybrid model. This model achieved an accuracy of 93.7% (AUC = 0.94 ± 0.09) in testing, also outperforming models based on histomics (AUC = 0.90 ± 0.11), transcriptomics (AUC = 0.55 ± 0.27), or %Comp (AUC = 0.58 ± 0.16) alone. CONCLUSION: Hybrid models offer improved outcome prognostication for patients with stroke. Identified digital histology and mRNA signatures warrant further investigation as biomarkers of patient functional outcome after thrombectomy.

Radiomics-Based Predictive Nomogram for Assessing the Risk of Intracranial Aneurysms.

Background: Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) has the potential to be used as an imaging biomarker for the risk stratification of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Radiomics provides a refined approach to quantify and further characterize AWE's textural features. This study examines the performance of AWE quantification combined with clinical information in detecting symptomatic IAs. Methods: Ninety patients harboring 104 IAs (29 symptomatic and 75 asymptomatic) underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI). The assessment of AWE was performed using two different methods: 3D-AWE mapping and composite radiomics-based score (RadScore). The dataset was split into training and testing subsets. The testing set was used to build two different nomograms using each modality of AWE assessment combined with patients' demographic information and aneurysm morphological data. Finally, each nomogram was evaluated on an independent testing set. Results: A total of 22 radiomic features were significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic IAs. The 3D-AWE Mapping nomogram achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 (63% accuracy, 78% sensitivity and 58% specificity). The RadScore nomogram exhibited a better performance, achieving an AUC of 0.83 (77% accuracy, 89% sensitivity and 73% specificity). Conclusions: Combining AWE quantification through radiomic analysis with patient demographic data in a clinical nomogram achieved high accuracy in detecting symptomatic IAs.

Decoding Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke Thrombectomy by RNA Sequencing of Retrieved Clots.

BACKGROUND: Transcriptomic profiling has emerged as a powerful tool for exploring the molecular landscape of ischemic stroke clots and providing insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying stroke progression and recovery. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between stroke clot transcriptomes and stroke thrombectomy outcome, as measured by early neurological improvement (ENI) 30 (i.e., a 30% reduction in NIHSS at 24 h post-thrombectomy). HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that there exist distinct clot gene expression patterns between good and poor neurological outcomes. METHODS: Transcriptomic analysis of 32 stroke clots retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy was conducted. Transcriptome data of these clots were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), defined as those with a log(fold-change) ≥ 1.5 and q < 0.05 between samples with good and poor early neurological outcomes. Gene ontology and bioinformatics analyses were performed on genes with p < 0.01 to identify enriched biological processes and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis canonical pathways. Moreover, AUC analysis assessed the predictive power of DEGs for 90-day function outcome (mRS ≤ 2) and cellular composition of clot was predicted using CIBERSORT. We also assessed whether differential enrichment of immune cell types could indicate patient survival. RESULTS: A total of 41 DEGs were identified. Bioinformatics showed that enriched biological processes and pathways emphasized the chronic immune response and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition. Moreover, 25 of the DEGs were found to be significant predictors of 90-day mRS. These genes were indicative of monocytes enrichment and neutrophil depletion in patients with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a distinct gene expression pattern and dysregulated biological pathways associated with ENI. This expression pattern was also predictive of long-term outcome, suggesting a biological link between those ENIs and 90-day mRS.

Global Disparities in the Presentation and Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Review and Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with high mortality rates. There is a significant gap in the literature describing global disparities in demographics, management, and outcomes among patients with aSAH. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess global disparities in aSAH presentation and management. METHODS: PubMed and Embase databases were queried from earliest records to November 2022 for aSAH literature. Presentation, demographics, comorbidities, treatment methods, and outcomes data were collected. Articles that did not report aSAH-specific patient management and outcomes were excluded. Pooled weighted prevalence rates were calculated. Random effects model rates were reported. RESULTS: After screening, 33 articles representing 10,553 patients were included. The prevalence of Fisher grade 3 or 4 aSAH in high- and lower-income countries (HIC and LIC), respectively, was 79.8% (P < 0.01) and 84.1 (P < 0.01). Prevalence of male aSAH patients in HIC and LIC, respectively, was 35.8% (P < 0.01) and 45.0% (P < 0.01). Prevalence of treatment in aSAH patients was 99.5% (P < 0.01) and 99.4% (P = 0.16) in HIC and LIC, respectively. In HIC, 35% (P < 0.01) of aneurysms in aSAH patients were treated with coiling. No LIC reported coiling for aSAH treatment; LIC only reported rates of surgical clipping, with a total prevalence of 92.4% (P < 0.01) versus 65.6% (P < 0.01) in HIC. CONCLUSION: In this analysis, we found similar rates of high-grade SAH hemorrhages in HIC and LIC but a lack of endovascular coil embolization treatments reported in LIC. Additional research and discussion are needed to identify reasons for treatment disparities and intervenable societal factors to improve aSAH outcomes worldwide.

Comparison between Woven EndoBridge and coiling with and without stent assistance for intracranial bifurcation and wide-neck aneurysms: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The recent introduction of the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) has presented an alternative treatment modality for intracranial bifurcation and wide-neck aneurysms with a growing body of literature evaluating its efficacy. However, no previous systematic review has focused on comparing WEB with previously using endovascular approaches, specifically primary coiling (PC) and stent-assisted coiling (SAC). Herein, the authors present the first systematic review summarizing available literature to reach a consensus regarding the safety and effectiveness of WEB. METHODS: A systematic review of articles identified through a search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted. Studies were included if they compared WEB with PC or SAC from any aspect for intracranial aneurysms. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies-of Interventions tool. Meta-analyses of the outcomes based on stent use and rupture status were performed. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies were included. The three endovascular approaches were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics except for older age and smaller aneurysm neck in the PC group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the follow-up duration was shorter in the WEB group (p < 0.05). Although the WEB group demonstrated lower complete and adequate immediate occlusion rates (p < 0.01), the rates at follow-up evaluations were comparable with SAC and PC (p = 0.61 and p = 0.27, respectively). The WEB group experienced significantly fewer unfavorable neurological outcomes than the SAC group (p = 0.04), while comparable to the PC group (p = 0.36). Retreatment rates were comparable between WEB and coiling (p = 0.92). The WEB group had fewer hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively), with similar neurological and procedure-related complications compared with combined PC and SAC groups. Lastly, mortality was comparable among the different endovascular approaches. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence on the noninferiority of WEB compared with PC and SAC in terms of angiographic outcomes. Meanwhile, our findings on lower complication rates, cost, and improved operative aspects associated with WEB establish this novel endovascular treatment as a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of bifurcation and wide-neck aneurysms.

The Influence of Coagulopathy on Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization as Standalone Treatment for Non-acute Subdural Hematomas.

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is emerging as a safe and effective standalone intervention for non-acute subdural hematomas (NASHs); however, the risk of hematoma recurrence after MMAE in coagulopathic patients is unclear. To characterize the impact of coagulopathy on treatment outcomes, we analyzed a multi-institutional database of patients who underwent standalone MMAE as treatment for NASH. We classified 537 patients who underwent MMAE as a standalone intervention between 2019 and 2023 by coagulopathy status. Coagulopathy was defined as use of anticoagulation/antiplatelet agents or pre-operative thrombocytopenia (platelets <100,000/µL). Demographics, pre-procedural characteristics, in-hospital course, and patient outcomes were collected. Thrombocytopenia, aspirin use, antiplatelet agent use, and anticoagulant use were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses to identify any characteristics associated with the need for rescue surgical intervention, mortality, adverse events, and modified Rankin Scale score at 90-day follow-up. Propensity score-matched cohorts by coagulopathy status with matching covariates adjusting for risk factors implicated in surgical recurrence were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Minimal differences in pre-operative characteristics between patients with and those without coagulopathy were observed. On unmatched and matched analyses, patients with coagulopathy had higher rates of requiring subsequent surgery than those without (unmatched: 9.9% vs. 4.3%; matched: 12.6% vs. 4.6%; both p < 0.05). On matched multivariable analysis, patients with coagulopathy had an increased odds ratio (OR) of requiring surgical rescue (OR 3.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-9.30; p < 0.01). Antiplatelet agent use (ticagrelor, prasugrel, or clopidogrel) was also predictive of surgical rescue (OR 4.38; 95% CI 1.51-12.72; p = 0.01), and patients with thrombocytopenia had significantly increased odds of in-hospital mortality (OR 5.16; 95% CI 2.38-11.20; p < 0.01). There were no differences in follow-up radiographic and other clinical outcomes in patients with and those without coagulopathy. Patients with coagulopathy undergoing standalone MMAE for treatment of NASH may have greater risk of requiring surgical rescue (particularly in patients using antiplatelet agents), and in-hospital mortality (in thrombocytopenic patients).