CT Perfusion collateral index in assessment of collaterals in acute ischemic stroke with delayed presentation: Comparison to single phase CTA.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Perfusion collateral index (PCI) has been recently defined as a promising measure of collateral status. We sought to compare collateral status assessed via CT-PCI in comparison to single-phase CTA and their relationship to outcome measures including final infarction volume, final recanalization status and functional outcome in ELVO patients. METHODS: ELVO patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who had baseline CTA and CT perfusion and underwent endovascular treatment were included. Collateral status was assessed on CTA. PCI from CT perfusion was calculated in each patient and an optimal threshold to separate good vs insufficient collaterals was identified using DSA as reference. The collateral status determined by CTA and PCI were assessed against 3 measured outcomes: 1) final infarction volume; 2) final recanalization status defined by TICI scores; 3) functional outcome measured by 90-day mRS. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients met inclusion criteria. Excellent recanalization defined by TICI ≥2C was achieved in 36 (68%) patients and 23 patients (43%) had good functional outcome (mRS ≤2). While having good collaterals on both CTA and CTP-PCI was associated with significantly (p<0.05) smaller final infarction volume, only good collaterals status determined by CTP-PCI was associated with achieving excellent recanalization (p = 0.001) and good functional outcome (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: CTP-based PCI outperforms CTA collateral scores in determination of excellent recanalization and good functional outcome and may be a promising imaging marker of collateral status in patients with delayed presentation of AIS.

Safety and efficacy of dual lumen balloon catheters for the Treatment of cerebral vascular malformations: A systematic review, pooled analysis, and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence in scientific literature assessing the safety and efficacy of dual-lumen balloon catheters (DLBCs) and their performance compared to single-lumen catheters (SLCs). METHODS: In this PROSPERO-registered, PRISMA-compliant systematic review, we identified all MEDLINE and EMBASE single-arm (DLBCs) and double-arm (DLBCs vs SLCs) cohorts where DLBCs were used for the treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs). Immediate angiographic outcome, vascular complications, technical failures, reflux episodes and entrapment were the primary outcomes. A meta-analysis of the double-arm studies summarized the primary outcomes of total procedural time and immediate angiographic outcome. RESULTS: The authors identified 18 studies encompassing 209 treated lesions with reported outcomes. Complete occlusion was achieved in 108/132 treated dAVFs (81.8%, 95% CI: [74-87.8%]) and in 45/77 treated AVMs (58.4%, [46.7-69.4%]). The proportion of completely occluded dAVFs was statistically significantly higher than that of AVMs, p < .001. There were eight reported vascular complications (3.8%, [1.8-7.7%]), five technical failures (2.4%, [0.9-5.8%]), 14 reflux events (6.7%, [3.9-11.2%]), two entrapment events (1%, [0.2-3.8%]) and 0 deaths (mortality rate 0%, [0-2.3%]). In a meta-analysis for the treatment of dAVFs, the total procedural time was significantly less for DLBCs compared to SLCs (64.9 vs 125.7 min, p < .0001). The odds of complete immediate occlusion were significantly higher with DLBCs compared to SLCs (odds ratio (OR) 4.6, [1.5-14.3], p = .008). CONCLUSION: Dual-lumen balloon catheters are safe and effective for the embolization of cerebral AVMs and dAVFs and can achieve faster and potentially superior results compared to SLCs. REGISTRATION-URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ Unique Identifier: CRD42021269096.

De novo brain AVM following radiotherapy for cerebral cavernous malformation in a child: A 15-year clinical course.

Multiple de novo brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVM) have been reported in the literature, raising questions about the contended purely congenital nature of these lesions. We present the 15-year course of a pediatric patient, who initially presented at age 5 with a thalamic cavernous malformation and was treated with radiosurgery, and then subsequently developed a thalamic de novo bAVM immediately adjacent to the initial lesion location, discovered 2 years later. Treatment of the bAVM entailed two transarterial embolizations and one radiosurgery session which ultimately led to complete angiographic resolution. Finally, this patient's course was complicated by intraparenchymal hemorrhage and acute obstructive hydrocephalus, and further imaging revealed two newly formed cavernous malformations, also associated with the initial lesion's location, that have remained stable since their formation. This case likely represents the second-hit model for the formation of vascular malformations, as sparsely supported by the current literature. According to this, genetically aberrant, yet quiescent, brain areas might promote the de novo formation of vascular malformations after brain injury, including radiation.

The SMART Registry: Long-Term Results on the Utility of the Penumbra SMART COIL System for Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms and Other Malformations.

Introduction: Penumbra SMART COIL® (SMART) System is a novel generation embolic coil with varying stiffness. The study purpose was to report real-world usage of the SMART System in patients with intracranial aneurysms (ICA) and non-aneurysm vascular lesions. Materials and Methods: The SMART Registry is a post-market, prospective, multicenter registry requiring ≥75% Penumbra Coils, including SMART, PC400, and/or POD coils. The primary efficacy endpoint was retreatment rate at 1-year and the primary safety endpoint was the procedural device-related serious adverse event rate. Results: Between June 2016 and August 2018, 995 patients (mean age 59.6 years, 72.1% female) were enrolled at 68 sites in the U.S. and Canada. Target lesions were intracranial aneurysms in 91.0% of patients; 63.5% were wide-neck and 31.8% were ruptured. Adjunctive devices were used in 55.2% of patients. Mean packing density was 32.3%. Procedural device-related serious adverse events occurred in 2.6% of patients. The rate of immediate post-procedure adequate occlusion was 97.1% in aneurysms and the rate of complete occlusion was 85.2% in non-aneurysms. At 1-year, the retreatment rate was 6.8%, Raymond Roy Occlusion Classification (RROC) I or II was 90.0% for aneurysms, and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 was achieved in 83.1% of all patients. Predictors of 1-year for RROC III or retreatment (incomplete occlusion) were rupture status (P < 0.0001), balloon-assisted coiling (P = 0.0354), aneurysm size (P = 0.0071), and RROC III immediate post-procedure (P = 0.0086) in a model that also included bifurcation aneurysm (P = 0.7788). Predictors of aneurysm retreatment at 1-year was rupture status (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Lesions treated with SMART System coils achieved low long-term retreatment rates. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT02729740.

Residuals, recurrences and re-treatment after endovascular repair of intracranial aneurysms: A retrospective methodological comparison.

OBJECTIVE: Incomplete aneurysm occlusions and re-treatment rates of 52 and 10-30%, respectively, have been reported following endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms, raising clinical concerns regarding procedural efficacy. We compare residual, recurrence and re-treatment rates subject to different endovascular techniques in both ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms at a comprehensive state-wide tertiary neurovascular centre in Australia. METHODS: Medical records, procedural and follow-up imaging studies of all patients who underwent endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms between July 2010 and July 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Residuals, recurrences and re-treatment rates were assessed regarding initial aneurysm rupture status and applied endovascular technique: primary coiling, balloon- and stent-assisted coiling and flow diversion. RESULTS: Among 233 aneurysms, residual, recurrence and re-treatment rates were 27, 11.2 and 9.4%, respectively. Compared with unruptured aneurysms, similar residual and recurrence (p > .05), but higher re-treatment rates (4.5% vs. 19%; p < .001) were found for ruptured aneurysms. Residual, recurrence and re-treatment rates were: 13.3, 16 and 12% for primary coiling; 12, 12 and 10.7% for balloon-assisted coiling; 14.9, 7.5 and 4.5% for stent-assisted coiling; 91.9, 0 and 5.4% for flow diversion. Stent-assistance and flow-diversion were associated with lower recurrence and re-treatment rates, when compared with primary- and balloon-assisted coiling (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Residuals and recurrences after endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms are less common than previously reported. Stent assistance and flow diversion seem associated with reduced recurrence- and re-treatment rates, when compared with primary- and balloon-assisted coiling. Restrained use of stents in ruptured aneurysms may be a contributing factor for higher recurrence/retreatment rates compared to unruptured aneurysms.