Endovascular stroke therapy in Austria: a nationwide 1-year experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Based on a tight network of stroke units (SUs) and interventional centres, endovascular treatment of acute major intracranial vessel occlusion has been widely implemented in Austria. Documentation of all patients in the nationwide SU registry has thereby become mandatory. METHODS: Demographic, clinical and interventional characteristics of patients who underwent endovascular treatment for acute ischaemic stroke in 11 Austrian interventional centres between 1 October 2013 and 30 September 2014 were analysed. RESULTS: In total, 301 patients (50.5% women; median age 70.5 years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 17) were identified.193 patients (64.1%) additionally received intravenous thrombolysis. The most frequent vessel occlusion sites were the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (n = 161, 53.5%), the intracranial internal carotid artery (n = 60, 19.9%) and the basilar artery (n = 40, 13.3%). Stent retrievers were used in 235 patients (78.1%) and adequate reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scores 2b and 3, median onset to reperfusion time 254 min) was achieved in 242 patients (81.4%). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage occurred in 7%. 43.8% of patients (n = 132) had good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) and the mortality rate was 20.9% (n = 63) after 3 months. Compared to the anterior circulation, vertebrobasilar stroke patients had higher mortality. Patients with secondary hospital transportation had better outcomes after 3 months than in-house treated patients. CONCLUSION: Our results document nationwide favourable outcome and safety rates of endovascular stroke treatment comparable to recent randomized trials. The ability to provide such data and the need to further optimize such an approach also underscore the contribution of respective registries.

[Endoluminal therapy of infrarenal aortic aneurysms with the Talent system--initial experiences with a new endoprosthesis]. / Endoluminale Therapie infrarenaler Aortenaneurysmen mit dem Talent-System--Erste Erfahrungen mit einer neuen Endoprothese.

PURPOSE: To report the early clinical experience with the Talent stent-graft system in the treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised 15 males aged from 51-79 years. A bifurcated Talent stent-graft was implanted in 9 patients with type B or C aneurysms, a tube graft in 6 patients with a type A aneurysm. The stent-grafts were introduced via a surgical femoral cut-down, for a bifurcated graft a bilateral surgical access was needed. All procedures were performed as teamwork by radiologists and vascular surgeons under general anaesthesia in the angiography suite. RESULTS: Primary and secondary technical successes were 80 and 86%, respectively. Technical failures were due to access site problems (n = 1; elective open repair), malpositioning of the prosthesis (n = 1; immediate conversion to open surgery), and primary distal leakage (n = 1; elective occlusion by means of distal stent-graft extension). One patient died 15 days after an uneventful stent-graft insertion (30-day mortality 6%). No complications were observed during a mean follow-up period of 7.8 months. The aneurysmal diameter decreased in 6 patients and remained unchanged in the others. CONCLUSIONS: The Talent system revealed satisfactory early results which are comparable to competitive stent-graft systems. An advantage of this stent-graft device is the availability in a wide range of dimensions. A major disadvantage is the large introducer system (french size 22-27).

Laceration of a benign adrenal adenoma mimicking a splenic rupture.

Lacerations of adrenal tumors are very rare events and have been described for myelolipoma, pheochromocytoma, and cortisol-producing adenoma. We report on a patient who was admitted with suspected splenic rupture. Computed tomography showed a mass 14 cm in diameter adjacent to the spleen, but selective angiography revealed blood supply by the left suprarenal artery. A ruptured adrenal tumor was therefore diagnosed and resected. No hormone production was detected. Histologically a benign adrenal adenoma was found. Frequency, diagnosis and therapy of adrenal masses are discussed.

Basilar tip aneurysm: endovascular treatment with Guglielmi detachable coils--midterm results.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and effectiveness of Guglielmi detachable coils in the endovascular treatment of ruptured and nonruptured basilar tip aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A basilar tip aneurysm was occluded with Guglielmi detachable coils in 21 patients. The aneurysmal diameter was small (less than 12 mm) in 15 patients, large (12-25 mm) in four patients, and giant (more than 25 mm) in two patients. Angiographic follow-up ranged from 6 to 48 months (mean, 26 months); clinical follow-up ranged from 1 to 48 months. RESULTS: Embolization was technically successful in all patients. Complete occlusion was achieved in 14 (67%) patients; 90% occlusion was achieved in seven (33%) patients. There was partial reperfusion of the aneurysm in three patients (14%) after 6 months, which necessitated repeated embolization. The clinical results were excellent in 13 patients, good in six, and fair in one. One patient died 2 months after the embolization due to pulmonary complications. A posterior cerebral artery was occluded in five (24%) patients; one of these patients developed a permanent neurologic deficit, one developed a transient neurologic deficit, and three had no clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of a basilar tip aneurysm with Guglielmi detachable coils seems to be a safe and less invasive alternative to surgical clipping.

Aortoduodenal fistula: a late complication of intraluminal exclusion of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm.

During recent years, considerable clinical experience has been gained with endoluminal stent-graft procedures. Several studies have shown promising results up to a period of 4.5 years. However, long-term follow-up studies are still limited. Late endoleaks caused by stent-graft migration, disconnection of single components in modular stent-grafts, and limb thrombosis have been observed as long-term complications. We report a case in which a migrated and kinked bifurcated stent-graft caused an aortoduodenal fistula 20 months after stent-graft insertion. To our knowledge, such a complication has not been reported before.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: angiographic follow-up and secondary interventions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placements and secondary interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty shunt venograms were obtained in 21 patients with TIPS placement at 6-month intervals or if Doppler ultrasound showed an abnormality. RESULTS: Abnormalities in the shunt were shown in 24 venograms (80%). Eight occlusions (two early, five late, one repeat) and 16 stenoses (nine hepatic vein, six hepatic vein and stent, one stent only) were seen. Two patients with shunt abnormalities experienced recurrent bleeding. All others had no signs of recurrent portal hypertension. Occluded TIPS were recanalized (n = 5) or a new TIPS was placed parallel to the occluded one (n = 2). One repeat occlusion was not revised. Fifteen of 16 stenoses were treated successfully with balloon catheter dilation (n = 8) or additional stent placement (n = 7). The mean portal pressure gradient before revision was 21 mm Hg +/- 3.8 (standard deviation) and 13 mm Hg +/- 3.6 after revision. CONCLUSION: Stenosis and occlusion of TIPS may be common during long-term follow-up. Regular examinations may demonstrate abnormalities early. An abnormality seen on the shunt venogram usually can be revised during the same procedure.

Extracranial aneurysm and arteriovenous fistula: embolization with the Guglielmi detachable coil.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of Guglielmi detachable coils for endovascular treatment of extracranial aneurysm and arteriovenous fistula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils delivered through Tracker-18 microcatheters was performed in 16 patients. This patient group had eight renal artery aneurysms and 11 arteriovenous fistulas (three cases of patent ductus arteriosus, one associated with aneurysm; one fistula between the maxillary artery and jugular vein; two fistulas between the subclavian and pulmonary arteries; four fistulas between the pulmonary artery and vein; and one fistula between the anterior tibial artery and vein). Efficacy of the procedure was assessed by means of short-term follow-up (clinical examination, angiography, and/or Doppler sonography) 3 and 6 months later. RESULTS: No complications were encountered. Embolization was technically and clinically successfully in all eight aneurysms (100%) and in nine arteriovenous fistulas (82%). In two cases (fistula between the subclavian and pulmonary arteries and fistula between the anterior tibial artery and vein) endovascular placement of Guglielmi detachable coils failed to occlude the vessel. Results of short-term follow-up examinations confirmed the initial results in all cases. CONCLUSION: Guglielmi detachable coils are feasible, safe, and effective for endovascular treatment of extracranial aneurysm and arteriovenous fistula.

[Endovascular embolization treatment for intractable epistaxis]. / Endovaskuläre Embolisationsbehandlung bei unstillbarer Epistaxis.

BACKGROUND: Intractable epistaxis has been treated with surgical intervention for many years, including ligation of the internal maxillary artery. As an alternative approach, endovascular therapy has gained increased acceptance. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment of untractable epistaxis. METHODS: Embolotherapy was performed in 26 patients. The indication for embolization was persistent epistaxis even after anterior and posterior nasal packing. In all but two patients, who required general anesthesia, the procedure was performed in local anesthesia. Endovascular embolization of the internal maxillary artery was performed by using microcatheters, which were introduced intraarterially. Particulate embolic agents were used in all but one patient, who was treated by means of minicoils. RESULTS: The embolization of the territory of the internal maxillary artery was possible in all cases, the technical success rate was 96%, the clinical success rate was 100%. No complications were encountered. Because of an acute recurrent bleeding in one case, a second embolization was performed. No delayed hemorrhages were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular embolotherapy seems to be an excellent, safe, and less invasive alternative to surgery in patients with intractable epistaxis.

Benign biliary obstruction: is treatment with the Wallstent advisable?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the self-expanding Wallstent in the treatment of benign biliary strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with benign biliary strictures were included in this retrospective study. Seven patients had chronic pancreatitis, two had fibrous papillary stenosis, one had primary sclerosing cholangitis, and 10 had postsurgical strictures, including four who had a stenosed bilidigestive anastomosis. Primary and secondary patency of the stents and clinical outcome after stent insertion were evaluated. RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in all patients. At the end of the observation period, which lasted 3-78 months (mean, 31.2 months +/- 4.5 [standard error]), 10 patients were alive. Median primary patency was 32 months +/- 8.7. In 10 patients, patency was preserved during the observation period (two with secondary patency). Six patients had a good clinical result. Among the other four patients, one had recurrent cholangitis, one had a biliary abscess, and two had stent revisions. In the other patients, stents became occluded after 3-55 months. The reason for stent occlusion was a stone in one patient; in the others, the causes were not proved. CONCLUSION: Results of stent placement for treatment of benign biliary strictures are not encouraging. However, the patient population is too limited to allow final conclusions.

Percutaneous cholangioscopy in obstructed biliary metal stents.

PURPOSE: To reevaluate the reasons for the occlusion of self-expanding biliary metal stents, on the basis of cholangioscopic findings. METHODS: Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) was performed in 15 patients with obstructed biliary Wallstents. The reason for stent insertion was a malignant obstruction in 14 patients; 1 had a benign biliary stricture. Conventional noncovered stents had been inserted in 12 patients; in 3 cases a polyurethanecovered prototype Wallstent had been used. Stent occlusions occurred after 1-55 months. PTCS was performed with a 2.3-mm endoscope through an 11 Fr sheath. Biopsies were taken via the working channel of the endoscope. RESULTS: In all patients with noncovered stents the inner surface of the stent was highly irregular with seaweed-like protrusions (biopsy-proven granulation tissue). Stent incorporation varied from absent (n = 1) to subtotal (n = 8), but was always incomplete, no matter how long the stent had been in place. Tumor ingrowth was histologically proven in 2 patients. One patient had a large occluding concrement at the proximal end of the stent. In patients with covered stents, the inner surface appeared more regular; however, viable granulation tissue was found inside two stents and tumor ingrowth in one of them. CONCLUSION: PTCS showed that incorporation of the stent is virtually always incomplete. The factors contributing most to stent occlusion are the buildup of granulation tissue, bile sludge, and tumor overgrowth. Stone formation and tumor ingrowth can also be important, although less common causes of occlusion. A polyurethane stent covering could not prevent tumor ingrowth in one patient and the buildup of viable granulation tissue inside the stent in two further patients; mean stent patency in the three patients with such a stent was 3 months.