Impact of Balloon Guide Catheter Use on Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes in the STRATIS Stroke Thrombectomy Registry.

Background and Purpose- Mechanical thrombectomy has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, the impact of balloon guide catheter (BGC) use is not well established. Methods- STRATIS (Systematic Evaluation of Patients Treated With Neurothrombectomy Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke) was a prospective, multicenter study of patients with large vessel occlusion treated with the Solitaire stent retriever as first-line therapy. In this study, an independent core laboratory, blinded to the clinical outcomes, reviewed all procedures and angiographic data to classify procedural technique, target clot location, recanalization after each pass, and determine the number of stent retriever passes. The primary clinical end point was functional independence (modified Rankin Scale, 0-2) at 3 months as determined on-site, and the angiographic end point was first-pass effect (FPE) success rate from a single device attempt (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction, ≥2c) as determined by a core laboratory. Achieving modified FPE (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction, ≥2b) was also assessed. Comparisons of clinical outcomes were made between groups and adjusted for baseline and procedural characteristics. All participating centers received institutional review board approval from their respective institutions. Results- Adjunctive technique groups included BGC (n=445), distal access catheter (n=238), and conventional guide catheter (n=62). The BGC group had a higher rate of FPE following first pass (212/443 [48%]) versus conventional guide catheter (16/62 [26%]; P=0.001) and distal access catheter (83/235 [35%]; P=0.002). Similarly, the BGC group had a higher rate of modified FPE (294/443 [66%]) versus conventional guide catheter (26/62 [42%]; P<0.001) and distal access catheter (129/234 [55%]; P=0.003). The BGC group achieved the highest rate of functional independence (253/415 [61%]) versus conventional guide catheter (23/55 [42%]; P=0.007) and distal access catheter (113/218 [52%]; P=0.027). Final revascularization and mortality rates did not differ across the groups. Conclusions- BGC use was an independent predictor of FPE, modified FPE, and functional independence, suggesting that its routine use may improve the rates of early revascularization success and good clinical outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02239640.

Safety Profile and Factors Associated With Good Outcome for Endovascularly Treated Infectious Intracranial Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Infectious intracranial aneurysms (IIAs), or mycotic aneurysms, are infectious inflammatory lesions that can cause devastating neurological damage or death. Recent systemic reviews have suggested endovascular treatment to be efficacious for IIA management. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety profile of different endovascular methods for treating ruptured and unruptured IIAs and factors associated with good clinical and radiographic outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single study of endovascularly treated ruptured and unruptured IIAs between 2003 and 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to study patient presentation, endovascular treatments used, and clinical and radiographic outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with ruptured (n = 20) and unruptured (n = 18) IIAs treated with endovascular methods were included. One patient required retreatment after aneurysm recanalization, and 2 patients demonstrated new infarcts after embolization. There was no postprocedural radiographic hemorrhage or infarct and no difference in clinical and radiographic outcomes comparing treatment modality. Hypertension was associated with ruptured IIA status and worse clinical outcome at 6 mo (odds ratio: 0.03 [95% confidence interval: 0.002-0.52]). CONCLUSION: In this study, the largest single-center series to date, we showed that endovascular intervention is a safe and effective strategy for both ruptured and unruptured IIAs. Hypertension was associated with ruptured status and worse clinical outcome. Procedures are generally well-tolerated and safe, with good outcomes for patients.

Transforaminal approach for cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula embolization.

A transverse sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) not easily accessible by standard transfemoral (transarterial or transvenous) endovascular approaches is presented. An enlarged transosseous retromastoid foramen harboring the occipital artery branch feeding the lesion was identified on CT angiogram (CTA). Curative Onyx embolization was achieved via percutaneous CT-guided direct puncture of the transosseous occipital arterial branch followed by microcatheter navigation through the needle distally towards the site of the fistula.

Carotid artery sacrifice for unclippable and uncoilable aneurysms: endovascular occlusion vs common carotid artery ligation.

BACKGROUND: Optimal treatment of intracranial aneurysms involves complete occlusion of the aneurysm with preservation of the parent artery and all of its branches. Attempts to occlude the aneurysm and preserve the parent artery may be associated with a higher level of risk than parent vessel occlusion or trapping. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our series of patients with large and giant aneurysms who underwent treatment via endovascular coiling with parent artery sacrifice or surgical ligation of the common carotid artery (CCA) and gain insight into the advantages and risks of each of these alternatives. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with aneurysms who underwent carotid sacrifice via endovascular occlusion or surgical CCA ligation during an 8-year period at our institution. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with large and giant aneurysms of the internal carotid artery underwent carotid artery sacrifice via endovascular occlusion (n = 15) or CCA ligation (n = 12). Of the patients who underwent endovascular occlusion, 3 developed groin complications, 1 developed a new sixth nerve palsy, 1 died from vasospasm related to subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 1 died secondary to rupture of an associated 3-mm anterior communicating artery aneurysm 5 days postoperatively. Of the patients undergoing CCA ligation, 1 patient developed a partial hypoglossal palsy. Clinical improvement of presenting symptoms was observed in all surviving patients regardless of the method of treatment. Complete aneurysm obliteration was documented in all patients during the initial hospital stay. The mean radiographic long-term follow-up was 14.2 months, which was available in 20 of the 25 surviving patients (80%). Complete obliteration was confirmed at follow-up in all but 2 patients with large cavernous aneurysms; 1 was initially treated with endovascular occlusion and the other with carotid ligation. CONCLUSION: Parent artery sacrifice is still a viable treatment for some complex aneurysms of the internal carotid artery. CCA ligation is a reasonable alternative to endovascular arterial sacrifice.