Two Cases of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with Microaneurysmal Changes and Spontaneous Disappearance in the Basilar Artery.

A 79-year-old woman presented at our hospital with sudden headache and vomiting. Computed tomography revealed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although digital subtraction angiography (DSA) performed on admission and on the following day revealed no vascular abnormalities, DSA on Day 22 revealed microaneurysmal changes in the dorsal basilar artery. However, the aneurysmal changes gradually became smaller during follow-up, and DSA on Day 73 revealed complete disappearance. A 53-year-old man also presented to our hospital with sudden headache and vomiting. Computed tomography revealed perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage. DSA on Days 9 and 16 revealed microaneurysmal changes in the dorsal basilar artery. Conservative treatment was continued, and DSA on Day 42 revealed spontaneous disappearance of the lesion. It has been reported that basilar artery perforating aneurysms cause angiogram-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage, which disappears spontaneously. The fact that lesions previously reported as basilar artery perforating aneurysms may include cases of acute dissection of the main trunk or perforating branches of the basilar artery implies that surgical or endovascular treatment may worsen the condition. Therefore, conservative treatment may be an important option.

[Repeated ischemic strokes due to infectious arteritis of both internal carotid and basilar arteries as a complication of sphenoiditis and otitis]. / Povtornye ishemicheskie insul'ty pri infektsionnom arteriite obeikh vnutrennikh sonnykh i bazilyarnoi arterii kak oslozhnenie sfenoidita i otita.

The article presents a case of a 54-year-old female patient who, over the course of 2 years, suffered 5 cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) due to infectious arteritis of both internal carotid arteries (ICA) and basilar artery as a complication of sphenoiditis and otitis. According to neuroimaging data, the steno-occlusive process in the ICA developed gradually, starting with the intracranial ICA narrowing with the contrast enhancement by vessel wall, the development of its occlusion six months later, and the detection of the extracranial ICA occlusion with the formation of «flame sign¼ at its mouth a year later. Repeated examination of the cerebrospinal liquid at an early stage of the disease revealed cytosis up to 367/3 and protein 0.66 g/l. The correct diagnosis was established only after 3 years with a retrospective analysis of clinical, neuroimaging, and laboratory data. Therefore, targeted antibiotic therapy was not carried out, which led to the progression of ICA occlusion and repeated strokes. Infectious arteritis should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of the causes of the ICA occlusive process.

Basilar artery occlusion management: An international survey of gender influence on management.

BACKGROUND: The superiority of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) over medical management was not established in two early basilar artery occlusion (BAO) randomized controlled trials. Despite this, many clinicians recommended EVT for acute BAO under certain circumstances. This paper aims to compare physicians' diagnostic and management strategies of BAO according to gender. METHODS: From January to March 2022 an international survey was conducted regarding management strategies in acute BAO. We compared responses between clinicians by identifying gender. Questions were designed to examine clinical and imaging parameters influencing management of patients with BAO. RESULTS: Among the 1245 respondents from 73 countries, 311 (25.0%) identified as female. This figure was 13.6% amongst interventionists. Geographically, female respondents were lowest in Asia (14.5%) and North America (23.9%). The proportion of respondents identifying as female was consistent regardless of their years of experience. Female respondents were more likely to choose time of onset as time of first estimated stroke like symptom (48.0% vs. 38.5%, p < .01), were less likely to favor thrombectomy in the V4 segment of vertebrobasilar artery occlusions (31.5% vs. 43.3%, p < .01), and were less likely to find it acceptable to enroll all patients who met trial criteria in the standard medical treatment arm of a clinical trial (41.2% vs. 47.0%, p = .01). Male respondents were more likely to agree that thrombolysis would not alter their decision on proceeding with EVT (93.7% vs. 88.3%, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Female clinicians appear to be significantly underrepresented in stroke medicine. This is most pronounced amongst interventionists and in Asia. Although male and female opinions were closely aligned on many aspects of BAO management, differences in opinion were observed in a number of significant areas which influence decision making.

Endovascular management of basilar artery aneurysms: a consecutive series of 124 patients.

BACKGROUND: There is currently no established criterion for determining when interventional treatment is necessary and what strategy is appropriate for basilar artery (BA) aneurysms. Through this study, we aimed to propose an algorithm that can effectively determine the optimal endovascular treatment (EVT) option for BA aneurysms. METHODS: We enrolled patients with BA aneurysms from June 2016 to December 2022 and performed procedures based on the algorithm. The analysis included demographic, clinical, and aneurysmal characteristics, procedural details, complications, angiographic outcomes, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: This study included 124 patients (mean age 55.0 years) with a BA aneurysm who underwent EVT. Of these, 21 aneurysms were treated in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The majority of aneurysms were located at the basilar apex (74), followed by the basilar trunk (30) and vertebrobasilar junction (20). Coiling was used in 18.5% of cases, while stent-assisted coiling embolization was chosen for 58.9%. Overlapping stents were used in 12.9%, flow diverter (FD) implantation in 3.2%, Y/T stent techniques in 4.8%, and stent adjunctive coiling with unilateral vertebral artery (VA) occlusion in only 1.6%. Procedure-related complications occurred in 15 patients (12.1%). Patients had a modified Rankin Scale(mRS) score of 0.74±1.62; 98 (86.7%) had good prognosis with mRS scores ranging from 0 to 2 at the last follow-up. DSA was performed on 105 (84.7%) patients revealing that 101 (81.5%) achieved complete or near-complete occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular treatment criteria for BA aneurysms depended on the multi-characteristics was safe and effective. However, further evidence is needed from large cohort studies.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured basilar artery trunk aneurysms: complications and long-term outcomes.

OBJECT: Treatment of ruptured basilar artery trunk (BAT) aneurysms is challenging, and is associated with high complication and mortality rates. Herein, we analyzed the complications, long-term outcomes, and outcome predictors of endovascular treatment for ruptured BAT aneurysms. METHODS: Between January 2011 and July 2023, 36 patients with 36 ruptured BAT aneurysms underwent endovascular treatment at our institution. The postprocedural complications and clinical and angiographic outcomes were subsequently reviewed, and the risk factors for postprocedural complications were evaluated. RESULTS: All 36 aneurysms in 36 patients were treated successfully. The median clinical follow-up time was 47.0 (IQR: 10.5, 84.5) months. Overall, complications occurred in 10 (27.8%) patients, including 3 (8.3%) deaths. Ischemic events occurred in seven (19.4%) patients, while three (8.3%) patients had shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, of whom one (2.8%) patient had both shunt-dependent hydrocephalus and ischemic events. The cumulative survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 94.1% and 87.8%, respectively. The cumulative 3- and 5-year complication-free survival rates were 75.0% and 70.0%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus (HR:8.76, 95%CI:2.35-32.69, p=0.001), and Glasgow coma scale score ≤ 12 before the procedure (HR:5.04, 95%CI:1.40-18.12, p=0.013) were associated with overall postprocedural complications. The complete aneurysm occlusion rate was 61.5% at a median angiography follow-up time of 6.0 (IQR: 5.0, 6.0) months. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment is a safe and feasible option for treating ruptured BAT aneurysms. The rate of favorable outcomes at the final follow-up was satisfactory. However, postprocedural complications, particularly ischemic events, should be carefully considered.

Association between Blood Pressure Variability and Clinical Outcomes after Successful Thrombectomy in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Stroke Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the appropriate choice of blood pressure management strategy for patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We evaluated the impact of blood pressure variability on clinical outcomes after MT in patients with acute BAO. METHODS: This multicenter cohort study included 108 patients with acute BAO who underwent successful emergency thrombectomy at two comprehensive stroke centers from 2016 to 2021. Blood pressure was measured hourly during the first 24 hours after successful reperfusion. Blood pressure variability was calculated as mean arterial pressure (MAP) assessed by the standard deviation (SD). Multivariate logistic models were used to investigate the association between BPV, the primary outcome (futile recanalization, 90-day modified Rankin Scale score 3-6), and the secondary outcome (30-day mortality). Subgroup analysis was performed as a sensitivity test. RESULTS: Futile recanalization occurred in 60 (56%) patients, while 26 (24%) patients died within 30 days. In the fully adjusted model, MAP SD was associated with a higher risk of futile recanalization (OR adj=1.36, per 1 mmHg increase, 95% CI: 1.09-1.69, P=0.006) and 30-day mortality (OR adj=1.56, per 1 mmHg increase, 95% CI: 1.20-2.04, P=0.001). A significant interaction between MAP SD and the lack of hypertension history on futile recanalization (P<0.05) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Among recanalized acute BAO ischemic patients, higher blood pressure variability during the first 24 hours after MT was associated with worse outcomes. This association was stronger in patients without a history of hypertension.

Reperfusion treatment in basilar artery occlusion presenting with mild symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: Endovascular treatment (EVT) improves outcomes for basilar artery occlusion (BAO) with moderate-to-severe symptoms. However, the best treatment for mild symptoms (NIHSS score 0-10 and 0-5) remains unclear. This study compared EVT ± IVT to IVT alone in BAO patients with mild symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From the SITS-International Stroke Treatment Register, we included BAO patients with available baseline NIHSS score, treated by EVT, IVT, or both within 6 h of symptom onset from 2013 to 2021. Using the Doubly Robust approach (propensity score matching plus multivariable logistic regression), we analyzed efficacy (3-month mRS) and safety (SICH and 3-month death) outcomes for EVT ± IVT versus IVT alone in BAO patients with NIHSS scores 0-10 and 0-5. RESULTS: 1426 patients were included. For NIHSS scores 0-10 (180 matched, 1:1 ratio), outcomes were similar between EVT ± IVT and IVT alone groups. For NIHSS scores 0-5 (89 matched, 1:1 ratio), EVT ± IVT was associated with worse outcomes compared to IVT alone (mRS 0-2, aOR 0.20 [95% CI 0.06-0.61]; p = 0.005; mRS 0-3, aOR 0.27 [95% CI 0.08-0.89]; p = 0.031), but safety outcomes were similar. DISCUSSION: In early-treated BAO patients with mild symptoms, defined as NIHSS 0-10, there were no significant differences in outcomes between EVT ± IVT and IVT alone. However, for very mild symptoms, defined as NIHSS 0-5, IVT alone was associated with better outcomes compared to EVT ± IVT.Conclusion: Randomized trials are crucial to determine the optimal reperfusion therapy for BAO patients with mild symptoms.

Hyperacute ischemic stroke care-Current treatment and future directions.

A decade on from the first positive thrombectomy trials, hyperacute therapies for ischemic stroke continue to rapidly advance. Effective treatments remain limited to reperfusion, although several cytoprotective approaches continue to be investigated. Intravenous fibrinolytics are now demonstrated to be beneficial up to 24 h in patients selected using perfusion imaging, but their role in patients with non-disabling symptoms appears very limited. Tenecteplase is superior to alteplase in meta-analysis of the latest trials, and adjuvant thrombolytics are an area of active investigation. Endovascular thrombectomy is beneficial in a wide range of anterior and posterior circulation large vessel occlusions up to 24 h after onset with the more distal occlusions, mild presentations, and >24 h window being the main frontiers to be tested in ongoing trials. Imaging parameters are prognostic but appear not to modify the relative treatment benefit of thrombectomy versus standard medical care. Therefore, deciding who not to treat with thrombectomy is a key clinical challenge that requires careful but rapid integration of clinical, imaging, and patient preference considerations. Systems of care to accelerate delivery of these highly effective therapies will maximize benefits for the greatest number of patients with stroke.

Transverse diameter of brainstem infarction is a strong predictor of miserable outcome after mechanical thrombectomy for acute basilar artery occlusion.

Although the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO) has been established in two randomized controlled studies, many patients have miserable clinical outcomes after MT for ABAO. Predicting severe disability prior to the procedure might be useful in determining the appropriateness of treatment interventions. Among the ABAO cases treated at 10 hospitals between July 2014 and December 2021, 144 were included in the study, all of whom underwent MRI before treatment. A miserable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 5-6 at 3 months. The associations between clinical, imaging, and procedural factors and miserable outcomes were evaluated. A miserable outcome was observed in 54 cases (37.5%). Multivariate analysis identified the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), transverse diameter of brainstem infarction, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage as independent factors associated with miserable outcomes, with cutoff values of NIHSS 22 and transverse diameter of brainstem infarction 15 mm. Cases with a higher preoperative severity may result in miserable postoperative outcomes. Particularly, the transverse diameter of a brainstem infarction can be easily measured and serves as a useful criterion for determining treatment indications.

An unusual etiology of subarachnoid hemorrhage, basilar artery perforator aneurysms, in Macao: Three case reports and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a severe neurological condition that requires prompt and appropriate treatment to prevent complications. Aneurysms are the most common cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conversely, basilar artery perforator aneurysms (BAPAs) are a rare etiology. There is no consensus on the optimal management of ruptured BAPAs in the acute setting. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case series of 3 patients with ruptured BAPAs who were treated at our institution. Two patients had a modified Fisher grade of I, and one had a grade of IV on initial presentation. The aneurysms were detected by computed tomography angiography in two cases and conventional angiography in one case. The 3 patients underwent endovascular treatment with Guglielmi detachable coils. Post-treatment, the patients had good clinical outcomes, and follow-up brain computed tomography scans showed reduced subarachnoid hemorrhage without any new hemorrhage. However, one patient experienced a cerebral infarction 2 months later and eventually succumbed to the condition. The other 2 patients showed progressive recovery, and no aneurysm recurrence was observed at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment may be a preferable approach for managing ruptured BAPAs compared with surgical intervention or conservative management. Early detection and prompt treatment is important to achieve favorable patient outcomes.

Effect of Stroke Etiology on Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar-Artery Occlusion: A Post Hoc Analysis of the ATTENTION Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Stroke etiology could influence the outcomes in patients with basilar-artery occlusion (BAO). This study aimed to evaluate the differences in efficacy and safety of best medical treatment (BMT) plus endovascular treatment (EVT) versus BMT alone in acute BAO across different stroke etiologies. METHODS: The study was a post hoc analysis of the ATTENTION trial (Trial of Endovascular Treatment of Acute Basilar-Artery Occlusion), which was a multicenter, randomized trial at 36 centers in China from February 2021 to September 2022. Patients with acute BAO were classified into 3 groups according to stroke etiology (large-artery atherosclerosis [LAA], cardioembolism, and undetermined cause/other determined cause [UC/ODC]). The primary outcome was a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3) at 90 days. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 340 patients with BAO were included, 150 (44.1%) had LAA, 72 (21.2%) had cardioembolism, and 118 (34.7%) had UC/ODC. For patients treated with BMT plus EVT and BMT alone, respectively, the rate of favorable outcome at 90 days was 49.1% and 23.8% in the LAA group (odds ratio, 3.08 [95% CI, 1.38-6.89]); 52.2% and 30.8% in the cardioembolism group (odds ratio, 2.45 [95% CI, 0.89-6.77]); and 37.5% and 17.4% in the UC/ODC group (odds ratio, 2.85 [95% CI, 1.16-7.01]), with P=0.89 for the stroke etiology×treatment interaction. The rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in EVT-treated patients with LAA, cardioembolism, and UC/ODC was 8.3%, 2.2%, and 3.2%, respectively, and none of the BMT-treated patients. Lower 90-day mortality was observed in patients with EVT compared with BMT alone across 3 etiology groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with acute BAO, EVT compared with BMT alone might be associated with favorable outcomes and lower 90-day mortality, regardless of cardioembolism, LAA, or UC/ODC etiologies. The influence of stroke etiology on the benefit of EVT should be explored by further trials. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04751708.

Endovascular Treatment for Basilar Artery Occlusion.

Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is a neurological emergency associated with a high risk for adverse outcomes. This review provides evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular therapy (EVT) in the treatment of BAO. Historically considered the primary intervention for acute ischemic stroke, IVT has been progressively combined with EVT, which has emerged from recent studies demonstrating clinical benefits, notably in patients presenting with severe stroke. Several randomised controlled trials have shown that EVT improves patient outcomes in select clinical contexts. Future research directions could address therapeutic treatment thresholds, combination strategies, and long-term outcomes.

The effect of microvascular decompression of the CN IX-X root entry/exit zone and the ventrolateral medulla in neurogenic hypertension involving the vertebral/basilar artery.

Introduction: Neurogenic hypertension (HTN) is a type of HTN characterized by increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Vascular compression is one of the pathogenic mechanisms of neurogenic HTN. Despite Jannetta's solid anatomical and physiological arguments in favor of neurogenic HTN in the 1970's, the treatment for essential HTN by microvascular decompression (MVD) still lacks established selection criteria. Therefore, the subjects selected for our center were limited to patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and primary hemifacial spasm (HFS) of the vertebral/basilar artery (VA/BA) responsible vessel type coexisting with neurogenic HTN who underwent MVD of the brainstem to further explore possible indications for MVD in the treatment of neurogenic HTN. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 63 patients who were diagnosed with neurogenic HTN had symptoms of HFS and TN cranial nerve disease. Patients were treated at our neurosurgery department from January 2018 to January 2023. A preoperative magnetic resonance examination of the patients revealed the presence of abnormally located vascular compression in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the root entry zone (REZ) of the IX and X cranial nerves (CN IX- X). Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, course of HFS, course of TN, course of HTN, degree of HTN, or preoperative blood pressure. Based on the postoperative blood pressure levels, nine out of 63 patients were cured (14.28%), eight cases (12.70%) showed a marked effect, 16 cases (25.40%) were effective, and 30 cases were invalid (47.62%). The overall efficacy was 52.38%. However, 39 cases of combined cranial nerve disease were on the left side of the efficacy rate (66.67%) and 24 cases of combined cranial nerve disease were on the right side of the efficacy rate (29.16%). Discussion: Over the last few decades, many scholars have made pioneering progress in the clinical retrospective study of MVD for neurogenic hypertension, and our study confirms the efficacy of MVD in treating vertebral/basilar artery-type neurogenic hypertension by relieving the vascular pressure of RVLM. In the future, with the development and deepening of pathological mechanisms and clinical observational studies, MVD may become an important treatment for neurogenic hypertension by strictly grasping the surgical indications. Conclusion: MVD is an effective treatment for neurogenic HTN. Indications may include the following: left-sided TN or HFS combined with neurogenic HTN; VA/BA compression in the left RVLM and REZ areas on MRI; and blood pressure in these patients cannot be effectively controlled by drugs.

Control-matched octo/nonagenarian outcomes in acute basilar artery occlusions treated with mechanical thrombectomy-analysis of the PC-SEARCH thrombectomy registry.

INTRODUCTION: Age is often used as a predictor in determining outcomes in large vessel occlusions treated with mechanical thrombectomy. However, limited data exist for octo/nonagenarian outcomes compared to younger individuals in acute basilar artery occlusions treated with thrombectomy. METHODS: Patient data were obtained from the PC-SEARCH Thrombectomy Registry which consists of 444 acute basilar artery occlusions treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Individuals were dichotomized based on age (>80 and ≤80 years old). Primary outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale of 0-3 at 90 days. Logistic and multivariate regression, as well as control-matched analysis, were performed. RESULTS: There were 373 and 71 patients in the younger and older cohorts, respectively. Gender, ethnicity, smoking status, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease were noted to be significantly different between cohorts. At 90 days, 178 (47.7%) and 23 (32.4%) patients achieved primary outcome at 90 days (p = 0.02), however, after controlling for potentially confounding factors this association lost significance (OR 0.50 95% CI 0.24-1.05; p = 0.07). There were 84 patients included in the control matched analysis and demonstrated no significant differences on multivariate analysis between cohorts (OR 0.68 95% CI 0.25-1.84; p = 0.45). INTERPRETATION: Octa/nonagenarians presenting with an acute basilar artery occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy can achieve acceptable rates of favorable functional outcomes compared to younger individuals with similar baseline demographic and stroke characteristics.

Microsurgical Clipping of a Ruptured Basilar Apex Aneurysm: Contending with a Formidable Clinical Scenario.

Basilar apex aneurysms (BAAs) are challenging and mortal vascular pathologies. In this operative video, we present the case of a 58-year-old female who was admitted with a severe headache and loss of consciousness. She was diagnosed with a ruptured BAA (Fisher grade 4) and merited microsurgical management after careful consideration of aneurysmal features, available clinical setting resources, and discussion with her family. Anatomical nuances for approaching these lesions stepwise are demonstrated in the attached video. Unfortunately, despite adequate surgical treatment, she developed postoperative complications such as cerebral vasospasm and pneumonia, which led to her death. Overall, this technical report depicts the formidable nature of BAA and prompts the need for optimized protocols during the postoperative stage.

Endovascular treatment for basilar artery occlusion: whether the "weekend effect" affects time metrics and clinical outcomes at a comprehensive stroke center.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate whether the "weekend effect" would affect the time metrics and the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO). Methods: Clinical data of AIS patients who underwent EVT due to BAO between December 2019 and July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. At the time when the patients were admitted, the study population was divided into the weekdays daytime group and weekends nighttime group. In the subgroup analysis, the study cohort was divided into four groups: the weekdays daytime group, weekdays nighttime group, weekend daytime group, and weekend nighttime group. A good outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of ≤3 at 90 days after EVT. Time metrics [e.g. onset-to-door time (ODT) and door-to-puncture time (DPT)] and clinical outcomes were compared using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 111 patients (88 male patients, mean age, 67.7 ± 11.7 years) were included. Of these, 37 patients were treated during weekdays daytime, while 74 patients were treated during nights or weekends. There were no statistically significant differences in ODT (P = 0.136), DPT (P = 0.931), and also clinical outcomes (P = 0.826) between the two groups. Similarly, we found no significant differences in the time metrics and clinical outcomes among the four sub-groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study did not reveal any influence of the "weekend effect" on the time metrics and clinical outcomes in AIS patients who underwent EVT due to BAO at a comprehensive stroke center.

Traumatic Vertebral Artery Dissection Without Cervical Spine Injury Treated by Mechanical Thrombectomy.

A 59-year-old female injured in a motor vehicle accident presented with progressively impaired consciousness, and emergent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed basilar artery occlusion (BAO). Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) was performed immediately and achieved complete recanalization. Contrast-enhanced MRI also indicated right vertebral artery dissection (VAD), and the patient was subsequently diagnosed with artery-to-artery embolism caused by traumatic VAD. Anticoagulation therapy was initiated postoperatively, and there was no VAD or BAO recurrence during the three-month follow-up. This is the first reported case of BAO caused by traumatic VAD in an adult without accompanying cervical vertebral fracture treated using MT.

Role of Phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase on Nicotine-Induced Vasodilation in Rat Cerebral Arteries.

OBJECTIVE: The sympathetic-parasympathetic (or axo-axonal) interaction mechanism mediated that neurogenic relaxation, which was dependent on norepinephrine (NE) releases from sympathetic nerve terminal and acts on ß2-adrenoceptor of parasympathetic nerve terminal, has been reported. As NE is a weak ß2-adrenoceptor agonist, there is a possibility that synaptic NE is converted to epinephrine by phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) and then acts on the ß2-adrenoceptors to induce neurogenic vasodilation. METHODS: Blood vessel myography technique was used to measure relaxation and contraction responses of isolated basilar arterial rings of rats. RESULTS: Nicotine-induced relaxation was sensitive to propranolol, guanethidine (an adrenergic neuronal blocker), and Nω-nitro-l-arginine. Nicotine- and exogenous NE-induced vasorelaxation was partially inhibited by LY-78335 (a PNMT inhibitor), and transmural nerve stimulation depolarized the nitrergic nerve terminal directly and was not inhibited by LY-78335; it then induced the release of nitric oxide (NO). Epinephrine-induced vasorelaxation was not affected by LY-78335. However, these vasorelaxations were completely inhibited by atenolol (a ß1-adrenoceptor antagonist) combined with ICI-118,551 (a ß2-adrenoceptor antagonist). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NE may be methylated by PNMT to form epinephrine and cause the release of NO and vasodilation. These results provide further evidence supporting the physiological significance of the axo-axonal interaction mechanism in regulating brainstem vascular tone.

Thrombectomy improves functional independence in severe basilar artery occlusion with favorable collateral circulation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of collateral circulation on the outcomes of thrombectomy versus medical management alone in basilar artery occlusion (BAO) patients with varying stroke severities. METHODS: Data from the ATTENTION cohort were used to perform a post-hoc analysis comparing the outcomes of thrombectomy with medical management in BAO patients with varying degrees of collateral circulation and stroke severity. Basilar Artery on Computed Tomography Angiography (BATMAN) scores were used to quantify the collateral circulation, and the effect was estimated through a primary outcome of 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, mRS ≤2). Favorable versus unfavorable BATMAN scores were analyzed as both continuous and categorical variables, and an adjusted multivariate regression model was applied. RESULTS: Among 221 BAO patients, thrombectomy significantly improved functional independence compared to medical management in patients with favorable BATMAN scores (aOR 7.75, 95% CI 2.78-26.1), but not in those with unfavorable BATMAN scores (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 0.28-6.92; pinteraction = 0.028). When treated as a continuous variable, increased BATMAN score was found to be associated with a higher likelihood of functional independence in the thrombectomy group (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.44-2.81; pinteraction = 0.053). In severe stroke patients with higher BATMAN scores (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥21), we identified a significant interaction for treatment effect with thrombectomy compared to medical management (pinteraction = 0.042). CONCLUSION: An increased BATMAN score was significantly associated with a higher probability of functional independence after thrombectomy than after medical management, particularly in patients with severe BAO.

When microsurgery becomes the only lifesaving resource: An institutional experience treating patients from low-income backgrounds affected by posterior circulation brain aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aneurysms of the posterior cerebral circulation constitute a burdensome condition with high mortality and morbidity. In the modern era, there has been a trend toward favoring an endovascular approach over microsurgery for aneurysm cases. Nevertheless, this transition has yet to be mirrored in low-to-middle-income countries where endovascular therapy may not be widely available. Herein, we aim to illustrate our experience treating these challenging conditions in patients from low-income backgrounds and discuss the relevance of the clinical setting in the treatment decision. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of the health records of patients who received microsurgical treatment for aneurysms in the posterior circulation, including the basilar artery (BA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in an institution providing treatment to people of low-income backgrounds. Epidemiological data, microsurgical technique, and neurological function were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Surgical clipping was employed for 12 patients (75% female) harboring 15 aneurysms (87% in the posterior circulation and 62% ruptured at presentation). Aneurysms were predominately located in the BA (69%), followed by the PCA (15%) and PICA (15%). Among neurological complications, 25% of patients developed oculomotor nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 17% owing to complications such as cerebral vasospasm, infarction, and severe intracranial hypertension. At the 6-month follow-up, 90% of patients had a good clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale scores of 0-2). CONCLUSION: The present case series illustrates the manifest role of microsurgical techniques for posterior circulation aneurysms, particularly in a scenario where endovascular techniques are not easily accessible. Importantly, this clinical setting pressure could exhort trainees to strive for microsurgical mastery and gain a competitive advantage.