Long-term survival outcomes and prognostic factors related to ruptured intracranial aneurysms: A comparison of surgical and endovascular options in a propensity score-matched, nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine the long-term survival outcomes of and prognostic factors for survival in patients with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm (RIA) who underwent endovascular coil embolization or surgical clipping. METHODS: We selected patients who had received a diagnosis of RIA between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Propensity score matching was performed, and Cox proportional hazards model curves were plotted to analyze all-cause mortality in patients undergoing different treatments. RESULTS: The matching process yielded a final cohort of 8102 patients (4051 and 4051 in endovascular coil embolization and surgical clipping groups, respectively) who were eligible for inclusion. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for endovascular coil embolization compared with surgical clipping were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.79-0.97). The aHRs for the ages of 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and ≥85 years compared with the ages of 20 to 64 years were 1.82 (95% CI, 1.60-2.07), 3.35 (95% CI, 2.93-3.84), and 6.99 (95% CI, 5.51-8.86), respectively. Surgical clipping; old age; male sex; treatment during 2011 to 2013; presence of diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or end-stage renal disease; history of stroke or transient ischemic attack; Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2; attendance of nonacademic hospitals; and low income were significant independent prognostic factors for poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with surgical clipping, endovascular coil embolization led to more favorable survival outcomes in patients with RIAs.

Unilateral right occipital condyle to C2 level spinal cord infarction associated with ipsilateral vertebral artery stenosis and contralateral vertebral artery dissection: a case report.

OBJECTIVES: To illustrate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of unilateral right occipital condyle to C2 level spinal cord infarction. SETTING: A teaching hospital in Taiwan. FINDINGS: A 37-year-old man presented with acute-onset severe right neck pain before weakness developed in both right limbs. Early diagnosis was delayed due to mild intervertebral herniation of the C4-C5 disk. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed unilateral right occipital condyle to C2 level infarction. Angiography showed stenosis of the right vertebral artery (foraminal and intradural segments), and dissection of the left vertebral artery at the C1-C2 level. At discharge, he walked with assistance; 2 weeks later, he walked independently. CONCLUSIONS: An early diagnosis is difficult but important, as it facilitates appropriate treatment for better functional and survival outcomes. Accurate early diagnosis can be made with adequate knowledge of spinal cord infarction and high index of suspicion for this condition.

Risk of Re-Rupture, Vasospasm, or Re-Stroke after Clipping or Coiling of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: Long-Term Follow-Up with a Propensity Score-Matched, Population-Based Cohort Study.

Scarce evidence is available in Asia for estimating the long-term risk and prognostic factors of major complications such as re-rupture, vasospasm, or re-stroke for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) undergoing endovascular coil embolization or surgical clipping. This is the first head-to-head propensity score-matched study in an Asian population to demonstrate that endovascular coil embolization for aneurysmal SAH treatment is riskier than surgical clipping in terms of re-rupture, vasospasm, or re-stroke. In addition, the independent poor prognostic factors of vasospasm or re-stroke were endovascular coil embolization, male sex, older age (≥65 years; the risk of vasospasm increases with age), hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, previous transient ischemic attack, or stroke in aneurysmal SAH treatment. BACKGROUND: To estimate the long-term complications and prognostic factors of endovascular coil embolization or surgical clipping for patients with ruptured aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: We selected patients diagnosed with aneurysmal SAH between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017. Propensity score matching was performed, and Cox proportional hazards model curves were used to analyze the risk of re-rupture, vasospasm, and re-stroke in patients undergoing the different treatments. FINDINGS: Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of re-rupture for endovascular coil embolization compared with surgical clipping was 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.57; p < 0.0001). The aHRs of the secondary endpoints of vasospasm and re-stroke (delayed cerebral ischemia) for endovascular coil embolization compared with surgical clipping were 1.14 (1.02-1.27; p = 0.0214) and 2.04 (1.83-2.29; p < 0.0001), respectively. The independent poor prognostic factors for vasospasm and re-stroke were endovascular coil embolization, male sex, older age (≥65 years; risk increases with age), hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and previous transient ischemic attack or stroke. INTERPRETATION: Endovascular coil embolization for aneurysmal SAH carries a higher risk than surgical clipping of both short- and long-term complications including re-rupture, vasospasm, and re-stroke.

Long-Term Medical Resource Consumption between Surgical Clipping and Endovascular Coiling for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Propensity Score-Matched, Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To estimate long-term medical resource consumption in patients with subarachnoid aneurysmal hemorrhage (SAH) receiving surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we enrolled patients with aneurysmal SAH who received clipping or coiling. After propensity score matching and adjustment for confounders, a generalized linear mixed model was used to determine significant differences in the accumulative hospital stay (days), intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and total medical cost for aneurysmal SAH, as well as possible subsequent surgical complications and recurrence. RESULTS: The matching process yielded a final cohort of 8102 patients (4051 and 4051 in endovascular coil embolization and surgical clipping, respectively) who were eligible for further analysis. The mean accumulative hospital stay significantly differed between coiling (31.2 days) and clipping (46.8 days; p < 0.0001). After the generalized linear model adjustment of gamma distribution with a log link, compared with the surgical clipping procedure, the adjusted odds ratios (aOR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of the medical cost of accumulative hospital stay for the endovascular coil embolization procedure was 0.63 (0.60, 0.66; p < 0·0001). The mean accumulative ICU stay significantly differed between the coiling and clipping groups (9.4 vs. 14.9 days; p < 0.0001). The aORs (95% CI) of the medical cost of accumulative ICU stay in the endovascular coil embolization group was 0.61 (0.58, 0.64; p < 0.0001). The aOR (95% CI) of the total medical cost of index hospitalization in the endovascular coil embolization group was 0·85 (0.82, 0.87; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Medical resource consumption in the coiling group was lower than that in the clipping group.

Hydrocephalus with Ventricular Papillary Structure Induced by Aggressive Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas.

A 76-year-old man presented with progressive dementia, gait disturbance, and urinary incontinence for 1 year. Computed tomography scan revealed nonobstructive hydrocephalus, but abnormal papillary structures at the ventricular wall were noted. Before cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion surgery for hydrocephalus, we performed magnetic resonance angiography and magnetic resonance venography, which revealed multiple engorged vessels over the ventricular wall and bilateral hemispheres. Digital subtraction angiography revealed 2 dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) at the left transverse-sigmoid sinus and superior sagittal sinus. Signs of angioarchitecture characteristic of cerebral venous hypertension (CVH) were noted, including cortical vein regurgitation and severe pseudophlebitic pattern. DAVFs with CVH might be a factor contributing to acquired hydrocephalus. DAVFs should be considered when patients with hydrocephalus exhibit abnormal papillary structures at the ventricular wall. Performing CSF diversion surgery for hydrocephalus before downgrading or curing such aggressive DAVFs may lead to major complications.

Percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate vertebroplasty in the treatment of pain induced by metastatic spine tumor.

BACKGROUND: Metastases to the spine are a common problem in the large oncology center and represent a challenging problem in oncology practice. Patients with osteolytic metastases often experience intractable local and/or radicular pain. Therapeutic intervention can alleviate pain, preserve or improve neurologic function, achieve mechanical stability, and improve quality of life. Percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate vertebroplasty is an effective and relatively easy method of relieving patients' pain. METHOD: Between January 2002 and December 2006, 57 patients (78 vertebrae) with spinal metastatic tumor treated with PMMA vertebroplasty were enrolled in this study. The main indication for treatment was pain. RESULT: The mean value of VAS was 8.1+/-0.67 preoperatively, and it significantly decreased to 3.8+/-1.9 (1-8, P<.015) 1 day after vertebroplasty. The mean VAS value 6 months after vertebroplasty was 2.8+/-2.0 (P<.001). The mean amounts of preoperative nonnarcotic analgesic and narcotic analgesic were 1.98+/-1.4 and 1.19+/-0.73, respectively. Postoperatively, the mean amounts of nonnarcotic and narcotic analgesic decreased to 1.35+/-0.70 (P<.05) and 0.65+/-0.53 (P<.05). A statistically significant reduction of nonnarcotic analgesic use was noticed in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that offers a remarkable advantage of effective and immediate pain relief with few complications.

Traumatic anterior cerebral artery aneurysm following blunt craniofacial trauma.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) were retrospectively reviewed in an effort to identify patients at high risk of ACA aneurysm. METHODS: Blunt craniofacial trauma patients featuring vascular injuries over the region of the ACA were studied. RESULTS: Six patients featuring eight ACA aneurysms were diagnosed between June 1992 and December 2005, inclusively. Seven aneurysms were located at nonbranched sites and one was located over the right ACA-anterior communicating artery junction. One patient died immediately of massive intracranial lobar hemorrhage (ICH). The other 5 patients experienced rebleeding during a period of from 1 to 29 days. Brain computed tomography revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 1 of these 6 patients, ICH over the medial frontal area or cingulated gyrus in 4 patients, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in 3 patients, and an interhemispheric subdural hematoma (SDH) in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Delayed-onset deterioration of neurological deficit is the most common clinical presentation of traumatic ACA aneurysms. Midline hemorrhage such as medial frontal hemorrhage or cingulate gyrus hemorrhage, and the presence of an interhemispheric SDH associated with SAH and IVH subsequent to blunt craniofacial trauma should be further evaluated, as they pre-sent a high risk of traumatic ACA aneurysms to patients.

Repeated and multiple new vertebral compression fractures after percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study to detect patients with new-onset compression fractures following vertebroplasty. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and associated risk factors of new-onset vertebral compression fractures after vertebroplasty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a well-established technique for treating osteoporotic compression fractures. Short-term results are promising, but longer-term studies have suggested a possible accelerated failure rate in the adjacent vertebral body. METHODS.: We retrospectively reviewed patients with osteoporotic compression fractures from January 2000 to June 2006. The patients received percutaneous vertebroplasty with bone cement augmentation. Long-term follow-up radiographically identified the occurrence of vertebral fracture (minimum follow-up 24 months) after an initial vertebral fracture. RESULTS: In 852 patients (1131 vertebrae), 58.8% to 63.8% of new compression fractures after vertebroplasty were adjacent compression fractures. Adjacent fractures occurred much sooner than nonadjacent fractures; (71.9 +/- 71.8 days vs. 286.8 +/- 232.8 days, P < 0.001). In patients who experienced vertebral compression fractures 2 or more times, older age, lower baseline bone mineral density (BMD), and more pre-existing vertebral compression fractures were demonstrated in this study (P < 0.005). The gender and amount of cemented polymethyl methacrylate were not statistically different between Groups A (1 vertebral compression fracture) and B (vertebral compression fracture > or =2 times). CONCLUSION: New-onset vertebral compression fractures occurred repeatedly within a few years after vertebroplasty. New-onset adjacent-level fractures occurred sooner and were more predominate than nonadjacent level fractures. The results of this study suggest that older patient age, lower baseline BMD, and more pre-existing vertebral fractures were found to be risk factors for multiple vertebral compression fractures.

Surgical treatment of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: a 5-year experience.

OBJECT: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare disease. The goal of this study was to clarify the treatment results and management options in SSEH. METHODS: Patients with SSEH who were surgically treated in the authors' center between June 2003 and June 2008 were included in this study. Patients were treated as early as possible if their neurological deficits were incomplete or had been complete for 12 hours or less. The patients were assigned to 1 of 2 groups based on completeness of preoperative cord dysfunction (complete vs incomplete deficit). Surgical outcomes of the 2 groups were compared by functional performance, coded as Nurick grades at 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation. Also compared were duration of hospital stay and the number of days needed to regain the ability to function independently (defined as Nurick Grades 1 and 2) after the operation. RESULTS: There were 17 patients (7 female and 10 male) with pathologically confirmed SSEH. Coagulopathy, greater size (length) of SSEH, and preoperative complete spinal dysfunction were found to contribute to poor postoperative functional recovery (p < 0.05). Patients with incomplete preoperative deficits (ASIA Impairment Scale Grades B, C, and D) were able to achieve functional independent recovery within a month after surgery and had significantly better outcomes (lower Nurick grades) at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively than those with complete deficits (p < 0.001, p = 0.027, and p = 0.027, respectively). Median time to independent functional recovery and median length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in patients with incomplete preoperative deficits than in those with complete deficits (6 vs 110 and 9 vs 58 days, respectively; both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Impaired preoperative hemostasis contributes to larger size of SSEH, high probability of postoperative recurrence of spinal epidural hematoma, and poor functional recovery following surgical evacuation. Incomplete spinal cord dysfunction before surgery predicts good outcome and warrants emergent evacuation of SSEH especially in the cervical and thoracic regions, where the clots are located in proximity to the spinal cord.

Diagnosis of traumatic internal carotid artery injury: the role of craniofacial fracture.

Optimally, internal carotid artery (ICA) injury associated with craniofacial trauma should be treated soon after diagnosis. However, diagnosis is difficult and often delayed. The typical symptoms and signs for diagnosis of traumatic ICA injuries are sometimes easily neglected. Clinically, some patients were initially diagnosed by craniofacial fracture nearby the course of ICA. This investigation retrospectively reviews clinical experience in patients with traumatic ICA injury with a focus on the importance of craniofacial fracture nearby the course of ICA observed on brain or facial bone computed tomography. Eighteen patients with traumatic ICA injury were diagnosed at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from June 1998 to April 2004, including 10 patients with pseudoaneurysm formation, seven patients with occlusion, and one patient with laceration. Brain or facial bone computed tomography was reviewed retrospectively. The sample included 14 (78%) patients with skull base fractures involving the intracranial course of ICA and three (17%) patients with mandibular and cervical spine fractures near the course of extracranial ICA. Only one (5%) patient did not have evident fracture. Fractures involving the carotid canal were noted in three (17%) patients. Eight patients received interventional treatments. No further interventional treatments for traumatic ICA occlusion were performed as a result of good collateral flow from contralateral ICA or large infarction noted when diagnosed. Three patients with pseudoaneurysm received expectant management. One patient with arterial laceration with extravasation received no further management. Through meticulously evaluating routine brain and facial bone computed tomography, craniofacial fracture involving intracranial or extracranial course of ICA may be an adjuvant indicator of traumatic ICA injury for early diagnosis.