Carotid cavernous fistulae occurring after the use of the Fogarty catheter in carotid surgery: a review.

The Fogarty catheter represents a major advancement for the effective removal of distal thrombi during vascular surgery, including carotid endarterectomy (CEA). One complication related to its use is injury to the cavernous carotid artery with development of a carotid cavernous fistula (CCF). Including a recent case at our institution, 21 patients with a Fogarty-related CCF have been reported since 1967. We performed a detailed review of all Fogarty-related CCFs during the treatment of carotid occlusive disease. We suggest a management algorithm for post-CEA acute carotid occlusion.

20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid inhibition attenuates balloon injury-induced neointima formation and vascular remodeling in rat carotid arteries.

20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) contributes to the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro, but there are few studies that address its effects on vascular remodeling in vivo. The present study determined whether inhibition of 20-HETE production attenuates intimal hyperplasia (IH) and vascular remodeling after balloon injury (BI). Sprague Dawley rats underwent BI of the common carotid artery and were treated with vehicle, 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT, 50 mg/kg i.p. once daily), or HET0016 (N-hydroxy-N'-(4-butyl-2-methylphenyl)-formamidine) (2 mg/kg s.c. twice daily) for 14 days. Fourteen days after BI and treatment, the animals underwent carotid angiography, and the arteries were harvested for morphometric, enzymatic and immunohistochemical analysis. There was a 96% reduction of angiographic stenosis in the rats treated with 1-ABT. There was a 61 and 66% reduction of the intima/media area ratios in the 1-ABT and HET0016 treated rats compared with the vehicle-treated group. 20-HETE levels were elevated in BI carotid arteries, and the levels were markedly suppressed in the groups treated with 1-ABT and HET0016 (P < 0.001). Immunostaining revealed that the expression of CYP4A enzyme was markedly increased in the neointima of BI arteries, and it colocalized with the expression of smooth muscle-specific actin, indicating increased proliferation of VSMC. An increase in the expression of CYP4A and the production of 20-HETE contributes to neointimal growth in BI rat carotid arteries. Systemic administration 1-ABT or HET0016 prevents the increase in 20-HETE levels and attenuates VSMC migration and proliferation, resulting in a marked reduction in IH and vascular remodeling after endothelial injury.

Transarterial balloon assisted Onyx embolization of pericallosal arteriovenous malformations.

SUMMARY: Preliminary experience using a balloon assisted technique (BAT) for embolization of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) is reported. Two patients with large pericallosal AVMs were successfully embolized with Onyx under Scepter C balloon catheter flow arrest. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: One patient presented with a large intraventricular hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. The second patient presented with a long history of seizures and a small intracerebral hemorrhage. Both patients demonstrated extensive interhemispheric AVMs with multiple arterial feeders, predominantly from the pericallosal arteries. INTERVENTION: A Marathon microcatheter was navigated into the target arterial feeders and a Scepter C occlusion balloon catheter was inflated immediately proximal. Under flow arrest, Onyx was injected via the microcatheter with excellent nidal penetration. In both cases, there was complete angiographic obliteration of the treated component of the AVM. CONCLUSIONS: Onyx embolization under balloon catheter flow arrest allows for greater nidal penetration of embolic material and improved reflux control. The technique is limited by the current deliverability of balloon catheters and the potential risk for earlier embolization of dangerous anastomosis.

Aortic response to balloon injury in obese Zucker rats.

The small diameter of the carotid artery is not compatible with the evaluation of clinically available endovascular devices in the carotid balloon-injury (BI) model. We developed an endovascular BI model in the rat descending aorta, whose size is compatible with available endovascular instruments. We also tested the hypothesis that neointima formation is enhanced in the aorta of obese Zucker rats (OZR) compared with lean Zucker rats (LZR). Left external carotid arteriotomies and BI of the thoracic and abdominal aorta were performed by using a balloon catheter. Aortograms and aortic pathology were examined at 2, 4, and 10 wk after BI. At 10 wk after BI, the abdominal aorta in OZR had narrowed 8.3% ± 1.1% relative to baseline compared with an expansion of 2.4% ± 2.2% in LZR. Simultaneously, the thoracic aorta had expanded 9.5% ± 4.3% in LZR compared with stenosis of 2.8% ± 1.6% in OZR. Calculation of the intimal:medial thickness ratio revealed significantly increased neointimal formation in the OZR descending aorta compared with that in LNR. In conclusion, this minimally invasive BI model involving the rat descending aorta is compatible with available endovascular instruments. The descending aorta of OZR demonstrates enhanced neointimal formation and constrictive vascular remodeling after BI.

Endovascular embolization of prominent intercavernous sinuses for successful transsphenoidal resection of Cushing microadenoma: case report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Prominent intercavernous sinuses may result in vigorous bleeding during transsphenoidal resection of pituitary microadenomas and lead to incomplete or aborted tumor resection. We report the use of coil embolization of the intercavernous sinuses to prevent uncontrollable bleeding before transsphenoidal surgery is reattempted. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old man with Cushing disease underwent an attempt for transsphenoidal resection of an adrenocorticotrophic hormone--producing pituitary microadenoma. This approach was aborted secondary to profuse intercavernous sinus bleeding. The patient underwent endovascular coil embolization of the anterior intercavernous sinuses with complete obliteration. Six weeks later, he underwent successful transsphenoidal resection of the microadenoma. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful coil embolization of the intercavernous sinuses to prevent uncontrolled bleeding before transsphenoidal resection of pituitary microadenomas.

Exophytic ependymoma of the thoracic spine.

Exophytic ependymomas of the spinal cord are very rare outside the filum or conus region. We present a patient with a thoracic spinal cord intradural extramedullary and intramedullary, World Health Organization grade II ependymoma. Gross total resection of the extramedullary component with subtotal resection of the intramedullary tumor was achieved, since there was no clear distinction between cord and tumor. The patient received postoperative external beam radiotherapy for residual tumor, and at a 2-year follow-up he is ambulatory without evidence of tumor recurrence.

Angiographic evaluation of the rat carotid balloon injury model.

RATIONALE: The rat carotid balloon-injury (BI) model is a widely used model of intimal hyperplasia (IH) and vascular remodeling. A variable degree of IH after BI has been previously reported, and we have encountered technical challenges and suboptimal results with the original method. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the original rat carotid artery BI method with the use of micro-angiography. We tested the hypothesis that in order to obtain an optimal arterial response, BI should be limited to the common carotid artery with preservation of blood flow. METHODS AND RESULTS: The left common carotid artery (CCA) was injured by one of three different methods. Carotid angiograms and pathology were examined 14 days after BI. A 2F Fogarty balloon catheter inflated to 2 atm inside the aortic arch would not slide back into the common carotid artery until deflation to 0.5 to 0.7 atm. Four out of five (80%) vessels injured with this method developed excessive inflammation without discernible IH. Six out of nine (66%) arteries that underwent BI limited to the CCA at 2 atm developed the largest angiographic stenosis (p=0.003) and IH (0.20±0.03 mm(2), p=0.028). Ten out of eleven (91%) arteries injured with a variable pressure of 1.5 to 2.2 atm, based on the operator's feedback, developed considerable IH (0.12±0.02 mm(2)). All injured carotid arteries with preserved blood flow on angiography developed IH with intact histological boundaries. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal IH with preservation of histological boundaries is achieved by graded BI limited to the CCA that preserves carotid blood flow.

Balloon-assisted coiling of the proximal lobule of a paraophthalmic aneurysm causing panhypopituitarism: Technical case report.

BACKGROUND: We describe an intra-aneurysmal balloon-assisted technique to limit the coil volume in a large bilobulated paraophthalmic aneurysm. Our intent was to reduce the mass effect and presenting symptoms of diabetes insipidus (DI) with hypopituitarism. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 32-year-old woman presented with symptoms of DI and her work-up demonstrated hypopituitarism and partial bitemporal visual field defects. Cerebral angiography revealed a large paraophthalmic aneurysm with two distinctive lobules, projecting toward the pituitary fossa. The patient declined craniotomy but consented for endovascular treatment. The plan was to limit the embolization to the proximal lobule only. Initially, we used a dual microcatheter technique with a microcatheter in each lobule. A framing coil in the distal lobule did not prevent coil migration from the proximal lobule. Instead, we elected to use a Hyperform balloon in the distal lobule and were able to successfully coil the proximal lobule only. Her 3-year follow-up angiogram revealed a completely occluded aneurysm. The patient experienced resolution of the DI and improvement of her visual fields. However, she remained in hypopituitarism. CONCLUSION: Intra-aneurysmal balloon-assisted coiling of proximal aneurysmal lobules might be an alternative for the reduction of mass effect related to the coil mass. Careful follow-up is needed because subtotal occlusion carries a future risk of growth, recanalization and rupture. Unruptured intracranial carotid aneurysms can present with reversible DI and usually permanent pituitary disturbances.

Asymptomatic aneurysm of the cavernous and supraclinoid internal carotid artery in a patient with Balamuthia mandrillaris encephalitis.

This is the first report to our knowledge of the successful treatment of an asymptomatic mycotic aneurysm associated with Balamuthia mandrillaris encephalitis. A 27-year-old male with end-stage renal disease presented with generalized seizures following renal transplantation. MRI demonstrated multiple brain masses and an aneurysm of the cavernous and supraclinoid carotid artery. Autopsy of the donor's brain revealed Balamuthia encephalitis. The patient was placed on an anti-amebic regimen, his condition improved, and 126 days after the kidney transplant, MRI brain showed resolution of the aneurysm and improvement of the enhancing lesions. Balamuthia mandrillaris has been shown to cause a granulomatous encephalitis, with prominent vasculitis. This is the first report to demonstrate the risk of aneurysm formation associated with this infection. Prolonged anti-amebic treatment resulted in resolution of the aneurysm without clinical evidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage.