Simple endovascular coiling: An effective long-term solution for wide-necked ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms? A 10-years retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular coiling is usually the first line treatment modality for most ruptured intracranial aneurysms. However, there is still some debate as to whether microsurgical clipping or coiling is the treatment of choice for complex wide-necked ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms. Our aim was to assess the efficacy, safety and longevity of simple endovascular coiling for ruptured MCA aneurysms. METHODS: This was a single-centre 10 years retrospective study (2008-2019) of all endovascularly treated patients with ruptured MCA aneurysms (n = 148). Patients were treated with simple coiling (n = 111), balloon-assisted coiling (n = 13), dual micro-catheter coiling (n = 19), balloon-assisted and dual micro-catheter coiling (n = 4) and woven endobridge (WEB) device (n = 1). The standard follow-up protocol consisted of Magnetic Resonance angiography at 6, 12 and 24 months. Our primary endpoints were mortality at 2, 12 and 24 months and dependency at discharge. Secondary endpoints included aneurysm occlusion, complications, re-canalisation, rebleeding and retreatment rates. RESULTS: All-cause mortality at 2, 12 and 24 months was 4.7% (n = 7), 8.1% (n = 12) and 10.8% (n = 16), respectively. 81.3% of patients remained independent in activities of daily livings (ADLs) at the point of discharge. Over a mean follow-up period of 19.7 months, we demonstrated re-bleeding and re-treatment rates of 2.7% (n = 4) and 4.1% (n = 6) respectively. Complete occlusion was achieved in 54% (n = 79) of aneurysms, with recanalisation observed in 18.2% (n = 27) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that simple endovascular coiling techniques offer a safe and effective solution in the management of ruptured MCA aneurysms without the requirement for re-treatment either surgically or endovascularly using endoluminal stents or other devices.

Application of PHASES and ELAPSS scores to ruptured cerebral aneurysms: how many would have been conservatively managed?

BACKGROUND: We calculated the PHASES and ELAPSS scores for a large cohort of ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIA) in order to determine whether these RIA would have been pre-emptively treated or closely followed-up should they have been detected prior to rupture. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of RIA over a 20-year period. The primary outcome of this study was the PHASES score of each ruptured aneurysm included. Secondary outcomes were ELAPSS score and other risk factors for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage including aneurysm location, aneurysm size, aneurysm morphology, smoking and hypertension history, personal and family history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Multiplicity of cerebral aneurysms was recorded. Descriptive statistics are reported. RESULTS: 700 consecutive ruptured aneurysms were included. Mean age at rupture was 56 (+/-13.5) years. Mean aneurysm size was 5.9 (+/-2.5) mm. Most common locations of ruptured aneurysms were the anterior cerebral/communicating artery (39%), posterior communicating artery (21%), middle cerebral artery (16%) and basilar terminus (7%). Mean PHASES score was 5.3 (+/-2.5) and 17% of the RIA had a PHASES score of 3 or less. Mean ELAPSS score was 13.89 (+/-7.05) and over half of the RIA included had a low risk of future growth. CONCLUSIONS: A reasonable percentage of ruptured aneurysms have a low calculated PHASES score and these aneurysms may have been managed conservatively should they have presented incidentally prior to rupture. Most ruptured aneurysms also had a low ELAPSS score and were at low risk of future growth. The use PHASES score and ELAPSS score alone when making treatment decisions could result in many aneurysms being treated conservatively or undergoing remote surveillance despite rupture potential.

Endovascular Treatment Versus Best Medical Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Mild Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke patients with mild deficits is unknown. We sought to evaluate the natural history of patients with a low National Institute of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) and an intracranial occlusion. METHODS: We included patients with a computed tomography angiogram-proven intracranial arterial occlusion who presented within 24 hours of symptom onset with an NIHSS of ≤6. We compared outcomes of patients who were treated with EVT and those who were not by performing propensity score-matched analysis. Primary outcome was modified Rankin score (mRS) at 90 days. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were included: 38 were men (57.6%) with a median age of 69 (interquartile range [IQR], 57-79.5) years. Median NIHSS was 3 (IQR, 2-5). Median time from symptom onset to presentation was 2.87 hours (IQR, 1.3-5.9). Forty of the total cohort underwent best medical therapy alone (60.6%), whereas 26 underwent EVT (39.4%). Nineteen of the 26 patients who underwent EVT had a good clinical outcome (mRS ≤2) (73.1%), compared with 29 of 40 best medical therapy patients (72.5%) (odds ratio, 0.833 with 95% confidence interval, 0.263-2.631; P = 0.755). Following propensity score adjustment there was a tendency toward lower mRS following EVT (P = 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the higher number of proximal occlusions in the EVT group, overall outcomes were similar, with >70% of patients in each cohort having a good outcome at 90 days.

Cerebrofacial venous metameric syndrome-spectrum of imaging findings.

Cerebrofacial venous metameric syndrome (CVMS) is a complex craniofacial vascular malformation disorder in which patients have a constellation of venous vascular malformations affecting soft tissues, bone, dura, and neural structures including the eye and brain. It is hypothesized that a somatic mutation responsible for the venous abnormalities occurred prior to migration of the neural crest cells, and because of this, facial, osseous, and cerebral involvement typically follows a segmental or "metameric" distribution. The most commonly recognized form of CVMS is Sturge-Weber syndrome. However, a wide spectrum of CVMS phenotypical presentations exist with various metameric distributions of slow-flow vascular lesions including facial venous vascular malformations, developmental venous anomalies, venous angiomas, cavernous malformations (cavernomas), dural sinus malformations, and maybe even vascular tumors such as cavernous hemangiomas. Awareness of the various manifestations as described herewith is important for treatment and screening purposes.

A Lesson from Cardiology: The Argument for Ultrasound-Guided Femoral Artery Access in Interventional Neuroradiology.

PURPOSE: The transfemoral approach is widely used by neurointerventionalists for accessing the femoral artery in patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular procedures. In patients with more difficult anatomy, duplex ultrasonography (US) may be a valuable adjunct for femoral vascular access. We aimed to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of duplex US-guided femoral access within interventional neuroradiology. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE and included 5 randomized controlled trials. Odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences were pooled using the random-effects model. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of 5 RCTs that included 784 US-guided patients and 769 non-US-guided patients found that the US-guided approach was significantly favored in terms of time-to-access (weighted mean difference: 24.90 minutes, 95% confidence interval [CI] 12.41-37.38), first-pass success rate (OR 2.97; 95% CI 1.49-5.92), and total complication rate (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.77). There were no statistically significant differences in technical success rate, number of attempts, or individual complications. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided femoral artery access for endovascular procedures is a safe and effective adjunct for visualizing the femoral artery during vascular access for endovascular procedures. Neurointerventionalists should consider a low threshold for its use, especially for patients with challenging anatomy or at high-risk of bleeding complications.

Thrombus perviousness is not associated with first-pass revascularization using stent retrievers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent studies suggest that thrombus imaging characteristics such as Hounsfield unit (HU) and perviousness assessed on noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) and CT angiography (CTA) can predict successful recanalization. We assessed whether these thrombus imaging characteristics could predict successful first-pass recanalization. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed cases of mechanical thrombectomy over a three-year period in which patients received a multiphase CTA and were treated with a stent retriever on first pass. Thrombus attenuation, thrombus enhancement on arterial- and delayed-phase CTA and percentage washout were calculated and their association with first-pass recanalization, successful recanalization and distal embolic complications was studied. RESULTS: Fifty-two mechanical thrombectomy patients were included. First-pass recanalization was achieved in 59.6% and complete revascularization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale 2b/3) was achieved in 84.6%. There was no correlation between first-pass recanalization with thrombus density on NCCT ( p = 0.94), percentage enhancement on arterial ( p = 0.61) and delayed-phase CTA ( p = 0.23) or thrombus length ( p = 0.16). There was no correlation between number of passes and either thrombus density on NCCT ( p = 0.91) or percentage enhancement on arterial- ( p = 0.79) and delayed-phase ( p = 0.14) CTA or thrombus length ( p = 0.34). Clot length was significantly higher in patients with distal embolic complications than in those without (18.5 ± 7.9 vs 11.4 ± 6.6 mm, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that thrombus imaging characteristics on multiphase CTA cannot predict first-pass recanalization or successful revascularization in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with stent retrievers. Longer clot length was associated with higher risk of distal embolic complications.

Orbital Infarction Syndrome Following Mechanical Thrombectomy Secondary to Embolization in New Territory.

BACKGROUND: Orbital infarction syndrome (OIS) is a rare entity defined as ischemia of all intraorbital and intraoccular structures including the optic nerve, extraocular muscles, and orbital fat. This entity is rare due to rich anastomotic orbital vascularization from both the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery. We report a case of a patient who suffered emboli to previously nonaffected territories to the ophthalmic artery and external carotid artery, which resulted in orbital infarction syndrome, and describe techniques to avoid such complications. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old male presented to our institution with an acute ischemic stroke secondary to occlusion of the internal carotid artery terminus and M1 segment. The vessel was revascularized after 1 pass using a stent retriever. Postoperative angiography demonstrated sluggish flow in the distal right ophthalmic artery, as well as occlusion of the distal external carotid artery. Twenty-four hours following the procedure, the patient was noted to have complete ophthalmoplegia of the right eye, proptosis, and conjunctival chemosis. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated persistent occlusion of the distal right ophthalmic artery and external carotid artery. The right optic nerve was swollen, as were all extraocular muscles. A final diagnosis of orbital infarction syndrome was made given the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and occlusion of all vascular supply to the orbit on both conventional angiography and 24-hour computed tomography angiography. CONCLUSIONS: OIS is a rare entity that has not been previously described as a complication of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. OIS should be considered when patients present with blindness, orbital pain, and total ophthalmoplegia post thrombectomy.

Management of tandem occlusions in acute ischemic stroke - intracranial versus extracranial first and extracranial stenting versus angioplasty alone: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Optimal technical approaches of large-vessel anterior circulation acute ischemic strokes with concomitant extracranial internal carotid artery tandem occlusions is controversial. PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates: the overall outcomes of patients with tandem occlusions treated with second-generation mechanical thrombectomy devices; differences in outcomes of extracranial versus intracranial first approaches; and differences in outcomes of extracranial stenting at time of procedure versus angioplasty alone. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Web of Science was searched through September 2017 for studies evaluating patients presenting with acute tandem occlusions of the extracranial ICA and intracranial ICA, and/or proximal MCA treated with second-generation mechanical thrombectomy devices. Outcomes were pooled across studies using the random-effects model and expressed as cumulative incidence (event rate) and 95% CI. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were included in analysis. Overall mRS≤0-2 at 90 days was 47% (95% CI 42% to 51%). No statistical difference was seen in 90-day mRS≤0-2 for patients treated with extracranial versus intracranial first approaches, 53% (95% CI 44% to 61%) vs 49% (95% CI 44% to 57%) (P=0.58). No statistical difference was seen in 90-day mRS≤0-2 for patients treated with extracranial stenting versus angioplasty alone, 49% (95% CI 42% to 56%) vs 49% (95% CI 33% to 65%) (P=0.39). No other statistical differences in outcome or safety were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of all tandem occlusion patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy have good neurological outcomes. No statistical differences in outcome are identified between extracranial first versus intracranial first approaches, nor extracranial stenting versus angioplasty alone.

Diagnostic accuracy of a clinical carotid plaque MR protocol using a neurovascular coil compared to a surface coil protocol.

BACKGROUND: Carotid plaque imaging with MRI is becoming more commonplace, but practical challenges exist in performing plaque imaging with surface coils. PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic performance of a carotid plaque MRI protocol using a standard neurovascular coil (Neurovascular Coil Protocol) to a higher-resolution carotid plaque MRI using carotid surface coils (Surface Coil Protocol) in characterizing carotid plaque. STUDY TYPE: Prospective study comparing two MR techniques in plaque characterization. POPULATION: Thirty-eight consecutive carotid artery disease patients. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Patients underwent 3T MRI using 1) a Neurovascular Coil Protocol including the following sequences: 3D-FSE T1 pre/postcontrast and precontrast 3D IR-FSPGR, and 2) a Surface Coil Protocol using standard multicontrast MRI sequences. ASSESSMENT: Plaque characteristics analyzed by two independent neuroradiologists included intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), lipid-rich necrotic-core (LRNC), and thin/ruptured fibrous cap (TRFC). STATISTICAL TESTS: Diagnostic performance of the Neurovascular Coil Protocol was compared to the Surface Coil Protocol reference standard using receiver-operating curves. RESULTS: For IPH, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of the Neurovascular Coil Protocol were 91.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 78.8-97.5%), 87.0% (95% CI = 66.4-97.2%), and 0.92, respectively. For LRNC without IPH sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 73.3% (95% CI = 44.9-92.2%), 85.7% (95% CI = 67.3-96.0%), and 0.84, respectively. For TRFC, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 35.3% (95% CI = 14.2-61.7%), 97.6% (95% CI = 87.4-99.9%), and 0.66 respectively. Interobserver agreement for IPH, LRNC, and TRFC using the Neurovascular Coil Protocol were k = 0.87 (95% CI = 0.75-0.99), k = 0.54 (95% CI = 0.29-0.80), and k = 0.41 (95% CI = 0.08-0.74), respectively. DATA CONCLUSION: Our Neurovascular Coil Protocol has high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in identifying IPH and LRNC but is limited in assessment of TRFC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1264-1272.