A Clinically Immersive Medical Innovation Program for US MD Students: Curricular Description and Program Outcomes.

Background: There is growing need for physician-innovators to address the mounting challenges within the US healthcare system. Despite this, there remains a significant gap in understanding of the efficacy of innovation programs for US MD candidates. We present initial program outcomes of a novel, clinically immersive medical innovation program offered to MD candidates at the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) at UCLA. Methods: A novel clinically immersive medical innovation curriculum was developed based on existing and reputable medical innovation frameworks and tailored for medical students. Curricular topics broadly included clinical ethnography, interviewing techniques, mind mapping, needs formulation and prioritization, quality improvement, intellectual property, reimbursement pathways, solution landscaping and prioritization, regulatory processes. The program was trialed during an unscheduled summer with voluntary enrollees from DGSOM Class of 2024. The traditional four-level Kirkpatrick model was employed to assess program outcomes. Results: Program outcomes were positive on all four Kirkpatrick levels. Students rated enjoyment at 9.5/10 for lectures and 9.1/10 for clinical immersion. Student-perceived confidence in key skills increased by 43%, and 75% of faculty directly perceived improvement in ethnographic skills. Students were highly engaged in both didactics and clinical immersion, discovering on average 2.6 faculty-verified needs per week. Faculty largely felt their students discovered important unmet clinical needs and added value to their clinical practice. Conclusion: We developed and trialed a novel clinically immersive medical innovation curriculum tailored for medical students. This program achieved positive outcomes on all four levels of the Kirkpatrick model. Our findings have driven the local adoption of this program into our institution's medical school curriculum. We hope that the program efficacy demonstrated herein catalyzes more institutions to trial similar medical innovation programs.

We conducted this investigation after recent literature identified a significant gap in our understanding of the role of innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) programs in the United States (US) medical education. I&E programs are meant to teach the skills necessary to identify and assess ongoing challenges in health care and subsequently formulate a solution for such challenges. The rate of adoption of I&E programs into US medical education has been unexplainably slow, despite a strong reported interest among medical students in learning the associated topics. We sought to answer the question: how effectively can an I&E curriculum be integrated into the traditional US medical doctorate (M.D). curriculum? We designed a novel medical innovation program tailored for medical students and offered this six-week program to 16 M.D. candidates at UCLA during an unscheduled summer. By describing the curriculum in detail and presenting our holistic assessment of program outcomes including learners' feeling, learnings, transference of knowledge, and the program's real-world impact, we demonstrate methods by which medical innovation can effectively be taught to medical students and the impact this may have on our future physician workforce. Our implementation of a quality improvement conceptual framework examining multiple process measures enabled iterative and real-time improvement of the program throughout its offering. Our surveys were administered at regular intervals through the course, thereby allowing iterative feedback from enrolled students to drive course improvement, similar to how quality improvement frameworks incrementally improve outcomes through closed-loop feedback in health care settings. We posit that analogous medical innovation curricula should be increasingly integrated into MD curricula more broadly.

Chiari Type I Revision Decompressive Surgery Indications and Operative Technique: Experience in a Large Adult Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Chiari malformation is characterized by inferior displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum, frequently resulting in strain related headaches, and motor/sensory dysfunction. Chiari decompression technique varies significantly, possibly contributing to frequent revisions. We reviewed revision Chiari decompressions at our institution to determine the primary indications for revision and outcomes after revision. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent revision of Chiari decompression at our institution from 2005 to 2020. Demographics, indications for revision surgery, operative techniques, imaging findings, and preoperative/postoperative symptoms were collected. χ2 test was performed to determine statistical significance using a P < 0.05. Independent predictors of operative outcomes were identified. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients (91% females, mean age 38.8 years) were included for analysis. The median time to revision surgery was 69.1 months (range 0-364 months) with headache (n = 37, 80%) being the most commonly recurring symptom. Large craniectomy (n = 28, 61%) was the most frequent indication for revision surgery. Thirty-two (70%) patients underwent cranioplasty, 20 (43%) required duraplasty, 15 (33%) required arachnoid dissection, and 15 (33%) required tonsillar reduction during revision surgery. Postrevision follow-up (at 8.9 ± 5.2 months average, range 1-18 months), revealed an average reduction in all Chiari-related symptoms relative to symptoms before the revision. CONCLUSIONS: The most common indication for revision Chiari decompression was a large craniectomy resulting in cerebellar ptosis. We found that tonsillar reduction paired with modest craniectomy achieved near-complete resolution of symptoms with minimal complications. For patients with recurrent or persistent sequelae of Chiari malformation after decompression, revision may reduce symptom severity.

Triple Stentriever "Bouquet" Deployment with Zoom 88 Large-Bore Aspiration and Walrus Balloon-Guide Catheter for the Definitive Thrombectomy of a Carotid Free-Floating Thrombus.

Formation of a carotid free-floating thrombus (CFFT) is a rare and life-threatening condition without an optimal management plan. A 78-year-old woman with a history of prior right internal carotid artery (ICA) mechanical thrombectomy and antiplatelet noncompliance presented with transient ischemic attacks secondary to a recurrent CFFT in the right ICA. Given her symptoms and recurrent CFFT, endovascular mechanical thrombectomy was performed. A balloon guide-catheter (BGC) and a Zoom 88 distal access catheter were brought into the right distal common carotid artery and proximal ICA bulb, respectively. Three 0.021-inch microcatheters, each loaded with a unique stentriever, were navigated beyond the thrombus into the upper cervical ICA and deployed in a bouquet fashion. The BGC was inflated to achieve flow arrest, and the Zoom 88 aspiration catheter was tracked over the three bouquet stentrievers to ingest the thrombus. Follow-up angiography demonstrated recanalization of the proximal cervical ICA without evidence of residual thrombus. Twenty-four-hour postoperative computed tomography imaging did not reveal any evidence of new infarction. The patient was discharged home with an intact neurological examination, compliant on aspirin and apixaban. We demonstrate a novel technique utilizing a large-bore catheter with a triple stentriever "bouquet" to thrombectomize a CFFT.

Machine learning predicts cerebral vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral vasospasm (CV) is a feared complication which occurs after 20-40% of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). It is standard practice to admit patients with SAH to intensive care for an extended period of resource-intensive monitoring. We used machine learning to predict CV requiring verapamil (CVRV) in the largest and only multi-center study to date. METHODS: Patients with SAH admitted to UCLA from 2013 to 2022 and a validation cohort from VUMC from 2018 to 2023 were included. For each patient, 172 unique intensive care unit (ICU) variables were extracted through the primary endpoint, namely first verapamil administration or no verapamil. At each institution, a light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) was trained using five-fold cross validation to predict the primary endpoint at various hospitalization timepoints. FINDINGS: A total of 1750 patients were included from UCLA, 125 receiving verapamil. LightGBM achieved an area under the ROC (AUC) of 0.88 > 1 week in advance and ruled out 8% of non-verapamil patients with zero false negatives. Our models predicted "no CVRV" vs "CVRV within three days" vs "CVRV after three days" with AUCs = 0.88, 0.83, and 0.88, respectively. From VUMC, 1654 patients were included, 75 receiving verapamil. VUMC predictions averaged within 0.01 AUC points of UCLA predictions. INTERPRETATION: We present an accurate and early predictor of CVRV using machine learning with multi-center validation. This represents a significant step towards optimized clinical management and resource allocation in patients with SAH. FUNDING: Robert E. Freundlich is supported by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences federal grant UL1TR002243 and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute federal grant K23HL148640; these funders did not play any role in this study. The National Institutes of Health supports Vanderbilt University Medical Center which indirectly supported these research efforts. Neither this study nor any other authors personally received financial support for the research presented in this manuscript. No support from pharmaceutical companies was received.

Machine Learning Predicts Cerebral Vasospasm in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients.

Background: Cerebral vasospasm (CV) is a feared complication occurring in 20-40% of patients following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and is known to contribute to delayed cerebral ischemia. It is standard practice to admit SAH patients to intensive care for an extended period of vigilant, resource-intensive, clinical monitoring. We used machine learning to predict CV requiring verapamil (CVRV) in the largest and only multi-center study to date. Methods: SAH patients admitted to UCLA from 2013-2022 and a validation cohort from VUMC from 2018-2023 were included. For each patient, 172 unique intensive care unit (ICU) variables were extracted through the primary endpoint, namely first verapamil administration or ICU downgrade. At each institution, a light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) was trained using five- fold cross validation to predict the primary endpoint at various timepoints during hospital admission. Receiver-operator curves (ROC) and precision-recall (PR) curves were generated. Results: A total of 1,750 patients were included from UCLA, 125 receiving verapamil. LightGBM achieved an area under the ROC (AUC) of 0.88 an average of over one week in advance, and successfully ruled out 8% of non-verapamil patients with zero false negatives. Minimum leukocyte count, maximum platelet count, and maximum intracranial pressure were the variables with highest predictive accuracy. Our models predicted "no CVRV" vs "CVRV within three days" vs "CVRV after three days" with AUCs=0.88, 0.83, and 0.88, respectively. For external validation at VUMC, 1,654 patients were included, 75 receiving verapamil. Predictive models at VUMC performed very similarly to those at UCLA, averaging 0.01 AUC points lower. Conclusions: We present an accurate (AUC=0.88) and early (>1 week prior) predictor of CVRV using machine learning over two large cohorts of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients at separate institutions. This represents a significant step towards optimized clinical management and improved resource allocation in the intensive care setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

Flow diversion of cerebral aneurysms in Type I osteogenesis imperfecta: A case report of the first two treatments in humans.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) predisposes individuals to easy bone fracture, vessel fragility, and platelet dysfunction. We report the first known case of neurointerventional treatment with flow diversion of intracranial aneurysms in a patient with OI. A 62 year-old female with known OI Type I, history of >40 lifetime bone fractures and hypertension, underwent workup for transient ischemic attacks revealing a 4-mm right A1 segment aneurysm in 2016. Perioperative dual antiplatelet therapy was aspirin 81 mg and clopidogrel 37.5 mg daily. Tri-axial access was utilized to deploy a 3.5 × 16-mm Pipeline Flex device without complication. Two-month follow-up revealed Raymond I (O'Kelly Marotta I) obliteration of the aneurysm. Five-year follow-up revealed a de novo left-sided 3-mm A1-A2 junction aneurysm. A 4 × 12-mm Surpass Evolve was placed without complication. Six-month follow-up revealed Raymond I (O'Kelly Marotta I) obliteration of the second aneurysm. The patient remained asymptomatic at all follow-up visits.

Use of a large-bore 088 intracranial access support catheter for delivery of large intracranial devices: case series with the TracStar LDP in 125 cases.

BACKGROUND: The delivery of neuroendovascular devices requires a robust proximal access platform. This demand has previously been met with a 6Fr long sheath (8Fr guide) that is placed in the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) or vertebral artery segments. We share our experience with the first 0.088 inch 8Fr guide catheter designed for direct intracranial access. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained IRB-approved institutional database of the senior authors to identify all cases where the TracStar Large Distal Platform (LDP) was positioned within the intracranial vasculature, defined as within or distal to the petrous ICA, vertebral artery (V3) segments, or transverse sinus. Technical success was defined as safe placement of the TracStar LDP within or distal to the described distal vessel segments with subsequent complication-free device implantation. RESULTS: Over the 41-month study period from January 2020 to June 2023, 125 consecutive cases were identified in whom the TracStar LDP was navigated into the intracranial vasculature for triaxial delivery of large devices, 0.027 inch microcatheter and greater, for aneurysm treatment (n=108, 86%), intracranial angioplasty/stenting (n=15, 12%), and venous sinus stenting (n=2, 1.6%). All cases used a direct select catheter technique for initial guide placement (no exchange). Posterior circulation treatments occurred in 14.4% (n=18) of cases. Technical success was achieved in 100% of cases. No vessel dissections occurred in any cases. CONCLUSION: The TracStar LDP is an 0.088 inch 8Fr guide catheter that can establish direct intracranial access with an acceptable safety profile. This can be achieved in a wide range of neurointerventional cases with a high rate of technical success.

Feasibility of super-bore 0.088″ mechanical thrombectomy in M1 vessels smaller than 8 French: Experience in 20 consecutive cases.

INTRODUCTION: Superbore 0.088″ catheters provide a platform for optimizing aspiration efficiency and flow control during stroke mechanical thrombectomy procedures. New superbore catheters have the distal flexibility necessary to navigate complex neurovascular anatomy while providing the proximal support of traditional 8F catheters. The safety and feasibility of Zoom 88™ superbore angled-tip catheters in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) segments smaller than the catheter diameter have not been previously described. METHODS: Twenty consecutive cases of acute MCA mechanical thrombectomy were retrospectively identified from the senior authors' prospectively maintained Institutional Review Board-approved database, in which the Zoom 88 (Imperative Care, Campbell, CA) catheter was successfully navigated to at least the M1 segment. Patient demographics, procedural details, and periprocedural information were analyzed. Rates and averages (standard errors) are generally reported. RESULTS: The average National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at presentation and age were 15 ± 2 and 73 ± 3 years, respectively. The M1 and M2 occlusions were evenly distributed. The average M1 measurements before thrombectomy ranged from 2.36 ± 0.07 mm proximally to 2.00 ± 0.11 mm distally, and after thrombectomy, they ranged from 2.34 ± 0.07 mm proximally to 1.97 ± 0.10 mm distally. First-pass modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) 2C/3 recanalization was achieved in 40% of cases, and final mTICI 2C/3 recanalization was achieved in 90% of cases. A single case of mild vasospasm was managed with verapamil. No hemorrhagic or periprocedural complications were noted. CONCLUSION: Superbore 0.088″ catheters with flexible distal segments can be safely navigated to the MCA to augment mechanical thrombectomy even when the MCA segment is smaller than the catheter.

Immediate procedural safety of adjunctive proximal coil occlusion in middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematomas: Experience in 137 cases.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) has emerged as an adjunctive and stand-alone modality for the management of chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH). We report our experience utilizing proximal MMA coil embolization to augment cSDH devascularization in MMA embolization. METHODS: MMA embolization cases with adjunctive proximal MMA coiling were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained IRB-approved database of the senior authors. RESULTS: Of the 137 cases, all patients (n = 89, 100%) were symptomatic and underwent an MMA embolization procedure for cSDH. 50 of the patients underwent bilateral embolizations, with 53% (n = 72) for left-sided and 47% (n = 65) for right-sided cSDH. The anterior MMA branch was embolized in 19 (14%), posterior in 16 (12%), and both in 102 (74.5%) cases. Penetration of the liquid embolic to the contralateral MMA or into the falx was present in 38 (28%) and 31 (23%) cases, respectively, and 46 (34%) cases had ophthalmic or petrous collateral (n = 41, 30%) branches. MMA branches coiled include the primary trunk (25.5%, n = 35), primary and anterior or posterior MMA trunks (20%, n = 28), or primary with the anterior and posterior trunks (54%, n = 74). A mild ipsilateral facial nerve palsy was reported, which remained stable at discharge and follow-up. Absence of anterograde flow in the MMA occurred in 137 (100%) cases, and no cases required periprocedural rescue surgery for cSDH evacuation. The average follow-up length was 170 ± 17.9 days, cSDH was reduced by 4.24 ± 0.5(mm) and the midline shift by 1.46 ± 0.27(mm). Complete resolution was achieved in 63 (46.0%) cases. CONCLUSION: Proximal MMA coil embolization is a safe technique for providing additional embolization/occlusion of the MMA in cSDH embolization procedures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential added efficacy of this technique.

Medical Student Enrollment in a Voluntary Medical Innovation Course.

Background: There is an increasing need for medical innovators to help address the growing challenges within health care. Despite this, the rate of adoption of new medical innovation programs at the United States (US) medical schools has been slow. Existing literature explaining this slow rate of adoption is scant. We examined the rate of student enrollment in a voluntary medical innovation course during an unscheduled summer at our institution and the educational backgrounds of these enrollees. Methods: This mixed qualitative and quantitative survey study comprised consecutive surveys quantifying a two-stage sign-up process for a voluntary summer medical innovation course for Medical Doctorate (MD) candidates at the David Geffen School of Medicine. After a "General interest" survey, interested students completed an "Enrollment" survey to indicate enrollment, educational background, and open-ended comment about motivations for enrollment. Surveys were administered electronically via email listservs. Statistical methods included chi squared testing with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05. Findings: A total of 12% of UCLA Class of 2024 expressed an interest in participation in the program, and 10.3% ultimately enrolled. Enrollees were motivated primarily by the opportunity to learn about medical innovation (72%) and also shadow (28%). Enrollees were similar in undergraduate degrees and majors to the general medical student class and US MD candidate population. Conclusion: A lack of medical student willingness to participate may not underlie the observed slow rate of adoption of medical innovation programs at US MD programs given the observed high voluntary enrollment rate. Enrollee educational background did not differ significantly from non-enrollees or the broader US MD candidate population. Educators should be encouraged by these data to explore student willingness to participate in medical innovation education at their institutions.

A novel ventriculoperitoneal shunt flow sensor based on electrically induced spatial variation in cerebrospinal fluid charge density.

Introduction: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts divert cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out of cerebral ventricles in patients with hydrocephalus or elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Despite high failure rates, there exist limited clinically viable solutions for long-term and continuous outpatient monitoring of CSF flow rate through VP shunts. We present a novel, low-power method for sensing analog CSF flow rate through a VP shunt premised on induced spatial electrical charge variation. Methods: Two geometric variants of the proposed sensing mechanism were prototyped: linear wire (P1) and cylindrical (P2) electrodes. Normal saline was gravity-driven through P1 and a commercially available shunt system in series. True flow rates were measured using a high-precision analytical balance. Subsequently, artificial CSF was driven by a programmable syringe pump through P2. Flow rate prediction models were empirically derived and tested. Sensor response was also assessed during simulated obstruction trials. Finally, power consumption per flow measurement was measured. Results: P1 (17 mm long) and P2 (22 mm long) averaged 7.2% and 4.2% error, respectively, in flow rate measurement from 0.01 to 0.90 mL/min. Response curves exhibited an appreciably flattened profile during obstruction trials compared to non-obstructed states. P2 consumed 37.5 µJoules per flow measurement. Conclusion: We propose a novel method for accurately sensing CSF flow rate through a VP shunt and validate this method at the benchtop with normal saline and artificial CSF over a board range of flows (0.01-0.90 mL/min). The sensing element is highly power efficient, compact, insertable into existing shunt and valve assemblies, and does not alter CSF flow mechanics.

Novel endovascular transmural technique for pharmacological block of superior cervical ganglion prevents sympathetic-mediated cerebral vasospasm.

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic-mediated vasoconstriction from the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) is a significant contributor to cerebral vasospasm. Inhibition of the SCG has been shown to improve cerebral blood flow and reverse cerebral vasospasm in swine models. We evaluated the efficacy of a novel minimally invasive endovascular approach to target and pharmacologically inhibit the SCG, using a Micro-Infusion Device for transmural drug delivery. METHODS: Eight SCGs in four Yorkshire swine were surgically identified. After confirming appropriate sympathetic-mediated intracranial vasoconstriction response with SCG stimulation, an endovascular Micro-Infusion Device was used for transmural targeting of the SCG and delivery of 1.5-2 mL of 1% lidocaine-contrast mixture to the perivascular space. Digital subtraction angiography was obtained at: (1) baseline; (2) with SCG stimulation; and (3) after lidocaine delivery to the SCG using the Micro-Infusion Device with concurrent SCG stimulation. Vessel diameters were measured and compared. RESULTS: Endovascular transmural delivery of lidocaine to the SCG and carotid perivascular tissue using the Micro-Infusion Device successfully inhibited sympathetic-mediated vasoconstriction response. Measured vessel diameters after lidocaine delivery were comparable to baseline despite SCG stimulation. CONCLUSION: A novel endovascular technique of transmural delivery of lidocaine to the SCG and carotid artery perivascular tissues successfully inhibits the sympathetic input to the cerebral vasculature and modulates sympathetic-mediated cerebral vasospasm. These results suggest promising steps towards translation to potential clinical use for patients suffering from cerebral vasospasm.

Endovascular transmural access to carotid artery perivascular tissues: safety assessment of a novel technique.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in endovascular devices have allowed access and targeting of perivascular tissues of the peripheral circulation. The perivascular tissues of the cervical and cranial circulations have many important structures of clinical significance, yet the feasibility and safety of such an approach has not been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of a novel endovascular transmural approach to target the perivascular tissues of the common carotid artery in swine. METHODS: A micro-infusion device was positioned in the carotid arteries of three Yorkshire pigs (six carotid arteries in total), and each carotid artery was punctured 10 times in the same location to gain access to the perivascular tissues. Digital subtraction angiography was used to evaluate vessel injury or contrast extravasation. MRI and MR angiography were used to evaluate evidence of cerebral ischemia or vessel injury. Post-mortem tissue analysis was performed to assess the level of extravascular hematoma and intravascular dissection. RESULTS: None of the tested carotid arteries showed evidence of vessel injury (dissection or perforation) or intravascular thrombosis. MRI performed after repeated puncture was negative for neck hematoma and brain ischemia. Post-mortem tissue analysis of the carotid arteries showed mild adventitial staining with blood, but without associated hematoma and without vessel dissection. CONCLUSION: Repeated puncture of the carotid artery to gain access to the perivascular tissues using a novel endovascular transmural approach is safe in a swine model. This represents a novel approach to various tissues in close proximity to the cervical and cranial vasculature.

Lumbar Spinal Canal Segmentation in Cases with Lumbar Stenosis Using Deep-U-Net Ensembles.

BACKGROUND: Narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal, or lumbar stenosis (LS), may cause debilitating radicular pain or muscle weakness. It is the most frequent indication for spinal surgery in the elderly population. Modern diagnosis relies on magnetic resonance imaging and its inherently subjective interpretation. Diagnostic rigor, accuracy, and speed may be improved by automation. In this work, we aimed to determine whether a deep-U-Net ensemble trained to segment spinal canals on a heterogeneous mix of clinical data is comparable to radiologists' segmentation of these canals in patients with LS. METHODS: The deep U-nets were trained on spinal canals segmented by physicians on 100 axial T2 lumbar magnetic resonance imaging selected randomly from our institutional database. Test data included a total of 279 elderly patients with LS that were separate from the training set. RESULTS: Machine-generated segmentations (MA) were qualitatively similar to expert-generated segmentations (ME1, ME2). Machine- and expert-generated segmentations were quantitatively similar, as evidenced by Dice scores (MA vs. ME1: 0.88 ± 0.04, MA vs. ME2: 0.89 ± 0.04), the Hausdorff distance (MA vs. ME1: 11.7 mm ± 13.8, MA vs. ME2: 13.1 mm ± 16.3), and average surface distance (MAvs. ME1: 0.18 mm ± 0.13, MA vs. ME2 0.18 mm ± 0.16) metrics. These metrics are comparable to inter-rater variation (ME1 vs. ME2 Dice scores: 0.94 ± 0.02, the Hausdorff distances: 9.3 mm ± 15.6, average surface distances: 0.08 mm ± 0.09). CONCLUSION: We conclude that machine learning algorithms can segment lumbar spinal canals in LS patients, and automatic delineations are both qualitatively and quantitatively comparable to expert-generated segmentations.

Augmentation of flow diverter vessel wall apposition using the Comaneci device: case experience from a novel, off-label technique.

BACKGROUND: Flow diversion (FD) embolization of intracranial cerebral aneurysms is an increasingly common modality where treatment success depends on adequate vessel wall apposition of the device. This study aimed to investigate off-label use of the Comaneci device for augmenting vessel wall apposition in post-deployed flow diversion stents (FDS). METHODS: Over a 20- month period, all FD cases for the treatment of internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms were reviewed. Cases in which the Comaneci device was used to augment vessel wall apposition were analyzed. Data including patient demographics, case characteristics, and procedural outcomes were collected and analyzed as counts. RESULTS: From a total of 74 ICA FD cases, the Comaneci device was used to improve vessel wall apposition in 22 cases (29.7%) . Of these cases, 91% were female with a mean patient age of 64.9±11.3 years, and an average aneurysm size of 4.5±2.5 mm. Comaneci device deployment and retrieval was successful in all (100%) cases, with an average fluoroscopy time of 27.3±7.8 min, an average contrast usage of 25.8±13.2 mL, and an average radiation exposure of 915.1±320.8 mGy. Only two cases (9%) required subsequent balloon angioplasty after Comaneci deployment to improve vessel wall apposition throughout the FDS. CONCLUSION: Our experience with this technique demonstrates the feasibility of using the Comaneci device for augmentation of FDS vessel wall apposition with 100% success in the deployment and retrieval of the Comaneci device.

Endoscope-Assisted Pedicled Maxillary Artery to Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass: An Anatomic Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Extracranial to intracranial bypass is used to augment and/or replace the intracranial circulation for various pathologies. The superficial temporal artery is the mainstay donor for pedicled bypasses to the anterior circulation but can be limited by its variable size, low native flow rates, and potential scalp complications. Interposition grafts such as the radial artery or greater saphenous vein are alternatives but are sometimes limited by size mismatch, length needed to reach the extracranial circulation, and loss of inherent vascular elasticity. Interposition grafts between the maxillary artery (IMA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) address these limitations. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of harvesting the IMA through an endoscopic transnasal, transmaxillary approach to perform a direct IMA to MCA bypass. METHODS: Combined transcranial and endoscopic endonasal dissections were performed in embalmed human cadavers to harvest the IMAs for intracranial transposition and direct anastomosis to the MCA. Donor and recipient vessel calibers were measured and recorded. RESULTS: A total of 8 procedures were performed using the largest and distal-most branches of the IMA (the sphenopalatine branch and the descending palatine branch) as pedicled conduits to second division of middle cerebral artery (M2) recipients. The mean diameter of the IMA donors was 1.89 mm (SD ± 0.42 mm), and the mean diameter of the recipient M2 vessels was 1.90 mm (SD ± 0.46 mm). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic harvest of the IMA using a transnasal, transmaxillary approach is a technically feasible option offering an excellent size match to the M2 divisions of the MCA and the advantages of a relatively short, pedicled donor vessel.

Trends in Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Use for Neurointerventional Procedures for the Management of Intracranial Aneurysms.

The use of periprocedural dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has significantly evolved along with innovations in the endovascular management of intracranial aneurysms. Historically, aspirin and clopidogrel have been the most commonly employed regimen due to its safety and efficacy. However, recent studies highlight the importance of tailoring DAPT regimens to individual patient characteristics which may affect clopidogrel metabolism, such as genetic polymorphisms. In the present report, a systematic review of the literature was performed to determine optimal antiplatelet use with flow diverting stents, intracranial stents, intrasaccular devices, and stent-assisted coiling. Studies were analyzed for the number of aneurysms treated, DAPT regimen, and any thromboembolic complications. Based on inclusion criteria, 368 studies were selected, which revealed the increasing popularity of alternative DAPT regimens with the aforementioned devices. Thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications associated with antiplatelet medications were similar across all medications. DAPT with ticagrelor, tirofiban, or prasugrel are effective and safe alternatives to clopidogrel and do not require enzymatic activation. Further clinical trials are needed to evaluate different antiplatelet regimens with various devices to establish highest-level evidence-based guidelines and recommendations.

Superior cervical ganglion stimulation results in potent cerebral vasoconstriction in swine.

Introduction: Sympathetic activity from the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) has been shown to cause cerebral hypoperfusion in swine, similar to that seen with clinical cerebral vasospasm. Although the mechanism of such perfusion deficit has been speculated to be from pathologic cerebral vasoconstriction, the extent of sympathetic contribution to vasoconstriction has not been wellestablished. Objective: We aimed to demonstrate that SCG stimulation in swine leads to significant cerebral vasoconstriction on digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Additionally, we aimed to show that inhibition of SCG can mitigate the effects of sympathetic-mediated cerebral vasoconstriction. Methods: Five SCGs were surgically identified in Yorkshire swine and were electrically stimulated to achieve sympathetic activation. DSA was performed to measure and compare changes in cerebral vessel diameter. Syngo iFlow was also used to quantify changes in contrast flow through the cerebral and neck vessels. Results: SCG stimulation resulted in 35-45% narrowing of the ipsilateral ascending pharyngeal, anterior middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries. SCG stimulation also decreased contrast flow through ipsilateral ascending pharyngeal, internal carotid and anterior cerebral arteries as seen on iFLow. These effects were prevented with prior SCG blockade. Minimal vessel caliber changes were seen in the posterior cerebral, posterior middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries with SCG stimulation. Conclusion: SCG stimulation results in significant luminal narrowing and reduction in flow through various intracranial arteries in swine. The results of sympathetic hyperactivity from the SCG closely models cerebral vasoconstriction seen in human cerebral vasospasm. SCG inhibition is a potential promising therapeutic approach to treating cerebral vasospasm.

Sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity results in potent cerebral hypoperfusion in swine.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral vasospasm is a complex disease resulting in reversible narrowing of blood vessels, stroke, and poor patient outcomes. Sympathetic perivascular nerve fibers originate from the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) to innervate the cerebral vasculature, with activation resulting in vasoconstriction. Sympathetic pathways are thought to be a significant contributor to cerebral vasospasm. OBJECTIVE: We sought to demonstrate that stimulation of SCG in swine can cause ipsilateral cerebral perfusion deficit similar to that of significant human cerebral vasospasm. Furthermore, we aimed to show that inhibition of SCG can block the effects of sympathetic-mediated cerebral hypoperfusion. METHODS: SCG were surgically identified in 15 swine and were electrically stimulated to achieve sympathetic activation. CT perfusion scans were performed to assess for changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT) and time-to-maximum (TMax). Syngo.via software was used to determine regions of interest and quantify perfusion measures. RESULTS: SCG stimulation resulted in 20-30% reduction in mean ipsilateral CBF compared to its contralateral unaffected side (p < 0.001). Similar results of hypoperfusion were seen with CBV, MTT and TMax with SCG stimulation. Prior injection of lidocaine to SCG inhibited the effects of SCG stimulation and restored perfusion comparable to baseline (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In swine, SCG stimulation resulted in significant cerebral perfusion deficit, and this was inhibited by prior local anesthetic injection into the SCG. Inhibiting sympathetic activation by targeting the SCG may be an effective treatment for sympathetic mediated cerebral hypoperfusion.

The "Bright Falx" Sign-Midline Embolic Penetration Is Associated With Faster Resolution of Chronic Subdural Hematoma After Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) are common in the elderly population and patients taking antiplatelet/anticoagulation medications. Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has become an adjunctive treatment to observation and surgery. Despite many embolization techniques, best practices for optimal CSDH resolution remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To report a retrospective case series of MMA embolization for CSDHs regarding rate of hematoma improvement and the significance of distal embolic penetration into the falx. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent MMA embolization for CSDHs between January 2017 and June 2021. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, anticoagulant use, and radiographic features were collected. Pre-embolization and postembolization computed tomography scans were analyzed for volumetric changes and assessed for midline penetration of embolic material in the falx. RESULTS: MMA embolization was performed in 37 patients and 53 hemispheres. Older patients took longer to obtain complete resolution of CSDHs (r = 0.47, P = .03). Patients with larger pre-embolization (r = 0.57, P = .007) and postembolization (r = 0.56, P = .008) CSDH volumes took longer to completely resolve. Patients who had n-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization with midline penetration, as evidenced by the "bright falx" sign, had faster improvement rates than those who did not (5.64 cm 3 /d vs 1.2 cm 3 /d, P = .02). CONCLUSION: Distal penetration of embolic material, particularly n-butyl cyanoacrylate, into the falx may lead to more rapid improvement of CSDH.