Endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke: a real-world experience.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke due to proximal vessel occlusions in the anterior cerebral circulation within 6 h of stroke onset is now recognised as highly beneficial. Five randomised controlled trials in 2015 showed significant improvement in functional outcome at 90 days compared with intravenous thrombolysis alone. Liverpool Hospital is a tertiary referral centre with an acute stroke service, including 24/7 intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy. AIM: To determine whether good functional outcomes with endovascular thrombectomy are achievable in patients with acute ischaemic stroke under 'real-world conditions' at an Australian tertiary referral centre. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of functional outcomes and mortality of 33 consecutive patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke in the anterior circulation at Liverpool Hospital over 24 months (2014-2015), including 13 'drip and ship' patients transferred from other centres. RESULTS: Functional outcomes defined as 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) were similar to published trials with a good outcome noted in 39.4% (mRS 0-2) of patients. Lower admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and shorter time to recanalisation from stroke onset correlated with good outcome (P < 0.05). Outcomes were not statistically different between the local and transferred cases. Mortality was not higher than historical rates for anterior circulation strokes due to proximal vessel lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort of patients with anterior cerebral circulation occlusions was treated outside the well-resourced situation of clinical trials and good functional outcomes are similar. The study translates endovascular thrombectomy to a 'real-world' situation.

Long-Term Follow-Up Results following Elective Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms with the Pipeline Embolization Device.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Numerous reports of treatment of wide-neck aneurysms by flow diverters have been published; however, long-term outcomes remain uncertain. This article reports the imaging results of unruptured aneurysms treated electively with the Pipeline Embolization Device for up to 56 months and clinical results for up to 61 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred nineteen aneurysms in 98 patients from 3 centers admitted between August 2009 and June 2011 were followed at 6-month, 1-year, and 2+-year postprocedural timeframes. Analyses on the effects of incorporated vessels, previous stent placement, aneurysm size, and morphology on aneurysm occlusion were performed. RESULTS: The 1- and 2+-year imaging follow-ups were performed, on average, 13 and 28 months postprocedure. At 2+-year follow-up, clinical data were 100% complete and imaging data were complete for 103/116 aneurysms (88.8%) with a 93.2% occlusion rate. From 0 to 6 months, TIA, minor stroke, and major stroke rates were 4.2%, 3.4%, and 0.8% respectively. After 6 months, 1 patient had a TIA of uncertain cause, with an overall Pipeline Embolization Device-related mortality rate of 0.8%. An incorporated vessel was significant for a delay in occlusion (P = .009) and nonocclusion at 6 months and 1 year, with a delayed mean time of occlusion from 9.1 months (95% CI, 7.1-11.1 months) to 16.7 months (95% CI, 11.4-22.0 months). Other factors were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: The Pipeline Embolization Device demonstrates continued very high closure rates at 2+ years, with few delayed clinical adverse sequelae. The presence of an incorporated vessel in the wall of the aneurysm causes a delay in occlusion that approaches sidewall closure rates by 2 years.

Safety of the pipeline embolization device in treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The published results of treating internal carotid artery aneurysms with the PED do not necessarily apply to its use in the posterior circulation because disabling brain stem infarcts can be caused by occlusion of a single perforator. In this multicenter study, we assessed the safety of PED placement in the posterior circulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective case registry was maintained of all posterior circulation aneurysms treated with PEDs at 3 Australian neurointerventional centers during a 27-month period. The objective was to assess the complications and aneurysm occlusion rates associated with posterior circulation PEDs. RESULTS: Thirty-two posterior circulation aneurysms were treated in 32 patients. No deaths or poor neurologic outcomes occurred. Perforator territory infarctions occurred in 3 (14%) of the 21 patients with basilar artery aneurysms, and in all 3, a single PED was used. Two asymptomatic intracranial hematomas were recorded. No aneurysm rupture or PED thrombosis was encountered. The overall rate of permanent neurologic complications was 9.4% (3/32); all 3 patients had very mild residual symptoms and a good clinical outcome. Aneurysm occlusion was demonstrated in 85% of patients with >6 months of follow-up and 96% of patients with >1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The PED is effective in the treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms that are otherwise difficult or impossible to treat with standard endovascular or surgical techniques, and its safety is similar to that of stent-assisted coiling techniques. A higher clinical perforator infarction rate may be associated with basilar artery PEDs relative to the internal carotid artery.

Immediate and midterm results following treatment of recently ruptured intracranial aneurysms with the Pipeline embolization device.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A number of flow-diverting devices have become available for endovascular occlusion of cerebral aneurysms. This article reports immediate and midterm results in recently ruptured aneurysms treated with the PED. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective registry was established at 3 Australian neurointerventional sites to collect data on ruptured and unruptured aneurysms treated with PED during a 12-month period from August 2009. From this data base of 65 patients, 11 cases of recent aneurysmal SAH were examined. Relevant data including antiplatelet therapy, technical issues, complications, and imaging findings during at least a 6-month period of follow-up were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven patients had acutely ruptured aneurysms with SAH. Clinical follow-up was available on all cases with imaging follow-up at 6 months in 9 patients. Two patients died from rebleeding during the acute illness. There was no other procedural or delayed significant symptomatic morbidity. Eight aneurysms were occluded with a single case of residual body filling. CONCLUSIONS: PED should be used in SAH with caution, reserved for suitable patients concomitantly treated with endosaccular coiling if possible.

Immediate and midterm results following treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms with the pipeline embolization device.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A number of flow-diverting devices have become available for endovascular occlusion of cerebral aneurysms. This article reports immediate and midterm results in treating unruptured aneurysms with the PED. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective registry was established at 3 Australian neurointerventional units. Aneurysms were treated on the basis of unfavorable anatomy or recurrence following previous treatment. Aneurysms were treated with PED or PED and coils. Data including antiplatelet therapy, technical issues, complications, and imaging findings were recorded during at least a 6-month period. RESULTS: A total of 57 aneurysms in 54 patients were treated by 5 neurointerventional radiologists. Forty-one aneurysms were asymptomatic, and 16 patients had mass-induced neurological deficit. Clinical follow-up was available in 57 aneurysms with imaging follow-up at 6 months in 56. Permanent morbidity and mortality in the series was 0% at 6 months. Four TIAs and 1 small retinal branch occlusion occurred, but no stroke. The demonstrated aneurysm occlusion rate at 1 month was 61.9%, and the overall occlusion rate at 6 months was 85.7%. In cases previously untreated, the 6-month occlusion was 92.5%. Three of 6 aneurysms with a previous stent in situ were occluded. Two patients (3.5%) had asymptomatic in-construct stenosis of >50%. Acute aneurysm-provoked mass effect resolved or improved significantly in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the PED is safe and efficacious in difficult aneurysms with a high occlusion rate at 6 months, but lower occlusion rates were seen in a small population with previous stents in situ.

The trigeminocardiac reflex in Onyx embolisation of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula.

We investigated the incidence of the trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) during ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx Liquid Embolic System, ev3 Neurovascular, Irvine, CA, USA) embolisation of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) and evaluated the post-procedural recovery of these patients. Between June 2006 and July 2009, 21 patients (11 females, 10 males) with a mean age of 61years (range: 25-85years) underwent 28 Onyx embolisations of intracranial DAVFs at our institution. The case histories of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. A TCR occurred in three (10.7%) of the embolisations, with bradycardia lower than 60 beats/minute and a drop in mean arterial blood pressure of 20% or more. The reflex was blunted promptly with intravenous atropine, and follow-up of these patients showed no complications that might have been directly related to it. The TCR may occur during Onyx embolisation of intracranial DAVFs. Recognition of this phenomenon allows for early detection and appropriate intraoperative management.

Onyx embolisation of cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula via direct percutaneous transorbital puncture.

The cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas of three patients were successfully embolised by using Onyx (Onyx Liquid Embolic System, MTI, Irvine, CA, USA) as the sole embolic agent, through direct percutaneous transorbital punctures of the cavernous sinuses. Our early experience suggests that this direct approach, coupled with the unique physical properties of Onyx, is a safe and effective alternative to treat cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas when the conventional transvenous routes are inaccessible.