Effect of prophylactic transluminal balloon angioplasty on cerebral vasospasm and outcome in patients with Fisher grade III subarachnoid hemorrhage: results of a phase II multicenter, randomized, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral vasospasm continues to be a major cause of poor outcome in patients with ruptured aneurysms. Prophylactic Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty (pTBA) appeared to prevent delayed ischemic neurological deficit in a pilot study. A phase II multicenter randomized clinical trial was subsequently designed. METHODS: One hundred and seventy patients with Fisher Grade III subarachnoid hemorrhage were enrolled in the study. Of these, 85 patients were randomized to the treatment group and underwent pTBA within 96 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Main end points of the study included the 3-month dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS), development of delayed ischemic neurological deficit (DIND), occurrence of Transcranial Doppler (TCD) vasospasm, and length of stay in the ICU and hospital. RESULTS: The incidence of DIND was lower in the pTBA group (P=0.30) and fewer patients required therapeutic angioplasty to treat DIND (P=0.03). Overall pTBA resulted in an absolute risk reduction of 5.9% and a relative risk reduction of 10.4% unfavorable outcome (P=0.54). Good grade patients had absolute and relative risk reductions of respectively 9.5 and 29.4% (P=0.73). Length of stay in ICU and hospital was similar in both groups. Four patients had a procedure-related vessel perforation, of which three patients died. CONCLUSIONS: While the trial is unsuccessful as defined by the primary end point (GOS), proof of concept is confirmed by these results. Fewer patients tend to develop vasospasm after treatment with pTBA and there is a statistically significantly decreased need for therapeutic angioplasty. pTBA does not improve the poor outcome of patients with Fisher grade III subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Neurointerventional treatment of vasospasm.

OBJECTIVES: To review the historical development and current status of endovascular techniques used in the treatment of symptomatic vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: This article summarizes the relevant literature on neurointerventional therapy for vasospasm, namely instillation of intraarterial medication (papaverine, nicardipine, verapamil) and transluminal balloon angioplasty. The authors synthesize the available literature with their own experience using the various endovascular modalities to treat vasospasm at high volume cerebrovascular centers. TECHNIQUE: Indications for the use of neurointerventional therapy as well as a summary of the technique for transluminal angioplasty to treat vasospasm as employed by the authors is described. DISCUSSION: Neurointerventional treatment of vasospasm following aneurysmal hemorrhage has been proven to be a safe and successful technique for those patients suffering symptomatic vasospasm refractory to medical management. The techniques contunue to undergo refinement as endovascular technology advances. We currently favor the use of balloon angioplasty over intraarterial antispasmotics due to the increased durability and long-lasting effects of the former and lower risk profile.

Impact of surgical clipping on survival in unruptured and ruptured cerebral aneurysms: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The management of aneurysms is controversial because little is known about the impact of clipping on long-term outcome. This study was designed to evaluate long-term survival of patients with aneurysms undergoing clipping in a statewide population. METHODS: We used a retrospective design using an administrative database to identify patients hospitalized with aneurysms (1987 to 2001). Time-to-event analysis was used to determine the risk of death from all causes and from neurological causes. RESULTS: 4619 patients (mean age 54.7+/-15.3, 66.3% female) were hospitalized with cerebral aneurysms. Survival among patients with ruptures was significantly lower compared with patients with unruptured aneurysm (P<0.001) with adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of death after clipping 40% higher (HR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2, 1.7) in patients with rupture compared with those that were unruptured. Survival estimates for unruptured patients who underwent clipping were significantly higher than among those unruptured patients who did not undergo clipping (P<0.001), with adjusted HR of death 30% higher in patients with unruptured aneurysm that were not clipped compared with unruptured patients who were clipped (HR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.6). Patients with unruptured aneurysm who underwent clipping and survived beyond the 30-day postoperative period were less likely to die from neurologically related causes (5.6 versus 2.3%, P<0.001). Patients with ruptures and aneurysms who underwent clipping have a higher rate of death compared with the general population in the long-term. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term and long-term mortality after clipping of cerebral aneurysms is higher than previously reported. Patients with unruptured aneurysms who undergo clipping have improved survival compared with those who do not undergo clipping. This study supports the use of early intervention in the management of patients with unruptured aneurysms.

Paradoxical cerebral arterial embolization of cement during intraoperative vertebroplasty: case report.

Paradoxical cerebral embolism of cement occurred in a 78-year-old woman after cement-assisted transpedicular spinal fixation surgery. Multiple pulmonary emboli of polymethylmethacrylate precipitated pulmonary hypertension and right-to-left shunting into the systemic circulation through a patent foramen ovale. This rare complication occurred because of failure to recognize venous migration of cement during the procedure and the injection of multiple levels in one setting. Although this was an open procedure, the technical aspects were the same as for vertebroplasty and the precautions should be applied to percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Accurate intraoperative localization of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae with embolization coil: technical note.

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae represent a potentially curable cause of a progressive myelopathy and therefore should be treated aggressively by either endovascular or surgical methods. In the surgical treatment of these lesions, intraoperative radiographic localization of the site of the fistula can be problematic. We describe an endovascular technique in which radiopaque microcoils are placed in the major feeding artery(ies) after completion of spinal angiography, which then provides a marker that is easily visualized with intraoperative x-rays, allowing effective localization of the site of the fistula.

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the atlas: successful treatment through selective arterial embolization: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign and expansile osteolytic lesions that can occur in any location in the spine, including the craniovertebral junction. Aggressive resection followed by bone grafting has been the mainstay of treatment, with selective arterial embolization as a presurgical adjunct. Complete excision of these lesions at the craniovertebral junction is associated with high surgical morbidity. We report a case of successful treatment of an ABC of the atlas in a child with selective arterial embolization alone. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 10-year-old girl presented with persistent neck pain after a snowboarding accident. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed an expansile cystic mass involving the right lateral mass of C1. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a tumor blush, which, along with the cystic appearance of the lesion, was consistent with an ABC. INTERVENTION: The arterial feeders to the lesion were selectively embolized with polyvinyl alcohol particles. Three sessions of embolization were required to eradicate the blood supply to the lesion completely. CONCLUSION: Complete surgical resection of ABCs at the craniovertebral junction can be associated with high morbidity secondary to the highly vascular and destructive nature of these lesions. The case discussed here demonstrates the viability of selective arterial embolization as a primary and stand-alone modality of treatment.