Transarterial Treatment of Cranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: The Role of Transarterial and Transvenous Balloon-Assisted Embolization.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas can be performed by transarterial or transvenous accesses. For those fistulas located at a dural sinus wall, obliteration of the sinus might lead to a substantial risk of complications if the occluded sinus impairs normal venous drainage. For those fistulas with direct leptomeningeal venous drainage, navigation to reach the arteriovenous shunting point of a leptomeningeal vein is usually technically demanding. We report the outcomes of patients with dural AVFs treated by transarterial injection of liquid embolic agents assisted by transarterial double-lumen balloon catheters and/or transvenous balloon catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, 3-center study including patients with dural AVFs treated with a balloon-assisted technique in at least 1 treatment session. Angiographic follow-up was performed at 6 months. Clinical assessment was performed at admission and discharge and was reassessed at 30-day and 6-month follow-ups. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with 43 dural AVFs were treated. Thirty-four fistulas were located at a dural sinus wall. Treatment was performed using only a transarterial approach in 42 fistulas. Only 1 session was needed for complete obliteration of the fistula in 86% of the patients. Immediate complete angiographic occlusion was achieved in 39 fistulas. Of the 41 controlled fistulas, 40 (97.6%) were completely occluded at 6 months. Thirty-nine fistulas (95.1%) were cured without any report of major neurologic events or death during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Transarterial balloon-assisted treatment of dural AVFs with or without transvenous balloon protection was shown to be safe and effective.

Hyper-attenuating brain lesions on CT after ischemic stroke and thrombectomy are associated with final brain infarction.

Purpose Hyper-attenuating lesions, or contrast staining, on a non-contrast brain computed tomography (NCCT) scan have been investigated as a predictor for hemorrhagic transformation after endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the association of hyper-attenuating lesions and final ischemic areas are poorly investigated in this setting. The aim of the present study was to assess correlations between hyper-attenuating lesions and final brain infarcted areas after thrombectomy for AIS. Methods Data from patients with AIS of the anterior circulation who underwent endovascular treatment were retrospectively assessed. Images of the brain NCCT scans were analyzed in the first hours and late after treatment. The hyper-attenuating areas were compared to the final ischemic areas using the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). Results Seventy-one of the 123 patients (65.13%) treated were included. The association between the hyper-attenuating region in the post-thrombectomy CT scan and final brain ischemic area were sensitivity (58.3% to 96.9%), specificity (42.9% to 95.6%), positive predictive values (71.4% to 97.7%), negative predictive values (53.8% to 79.5%), and accuracy values (68% to 91%). The highest sensitivity values were found for the lentiform (96.9%) and caudate nuclei (80.4%) and for the internal capsule (87.5%), and the lowest values were found for the M1 (58.3%) and M6 (66.7%) cortices. Conclusions Hyper-attenuating lesions on head NCCT scans performed after endovascular treatment of AIS may predict final brain infarcted areas. The prediction appears to be higher in the deep brain regions compared with the cortical regions.

Endovascular Management of Patients with Head and Neck Cancers Presenting with Acute Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: Acute hemorrhage associated with cancers of the head and neck is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate action. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of endovascular embolization for acute hemorrhage in patients with head and neck cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from patients with head and neck cancers who underwent endovascular embolization to treat acute hemorrhage. The primary endpoint was the rate of immediate control of hemorrhage during the first 24 h after embolization. The secondary endpoints were technical or clinical complications, rate of re-hemorrhage 24 h after the procedure, time from embolization to re-hemorrhage, hospitalization time, mortality rate, and time from embolization to death. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients underwent endovascular embolization. The primary endpoint was achieved in 94% of patients. The rate of technical complications was 5.8%, and no clinical complication was observed. Twelve patients (23.5%) had hemorrhage recurrence after an average time of 127.5 days. The average hospitalization time was 7.4 days, the mortality rate during the follow-up period was 66.6%, and the average time from embolization to death was 132.5 days. CONCLUSION: Endovascular embolization to treat acute hemorrhage in patients with head and neck cancers is a safe and effective method for the immediate control of hemorrhage and results in a high rate of hemorrhage control. Larger studies are necessary to determine which treatment strategy is best for improving patient outcomes.

Curative embolization of pediatric intracranial arteriovenous malformations using Onyx: the role of new embolization techniques on patient outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are the most frequent cause of hemorrhagic strokes in the pediatric population. The study aim was to retrospectively assess the safety and efficacy of Onyx embolization with the intention to cure AVMs in a pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients (<18 years) who underwent endovascular embolization using Onyx at our institution was conducted. The primary endpoint was the composite complete angiographic occlusion of AVM immediately after the last embolization session that had no procedure-related complication requiring emergency surgery. Secondary endpoints were angiographic occlusion rates, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes after treatment and at the 6-month follow-up RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (mean age, 11.7 years) underwent a total of 45 embolization sessions. The median Spetzler-Martin grade was 3 (range 1 to 4). The primary endpoint was achieved in 19 patients (82.6 %). Complete angiographic occlusion of the AVM was obtained in 21 patients (91.3 %) immediately after embolization and at the 6-month follow-up. Embolization-related complications were observed in three patients (13 %). None of the complications resulted in permanent functional disability or death. In two patients (8.7 %), the AVM could not be completely occluded by embolization alone and the patients were referred to radiosurgery and microsurgery, respectively. CONCLUSION: Onyx embolization of AVM in pediatric patients with the intention to cure resulted in high occlusion rates without increasing neurological disability or death. The development of new embolization techniques and devices seems to improve the safety of Onyx embolization.

Basilar Artery Fenestration Aneurysms: Endovascular Treatment Strategies Based on 3D Morphology.

PURPOSE: Basilar artery is the second most common site of fenestration, after the anterior communicating region. It is believed this variation predisposes a patient to posterior aneurysm formation and increases the complexity of the surgical anatomy. Endovascular management has become the first option to treat these aneurysms. We retrospectively evaluated eight patients, who underwent endovascular treatment for fenestrated basilar artery related aneurysms (fBA-AN). Additionally, based on our findings and on literature review, we developed a treatment strategy based on a proposed classification of fBA-AN. METHODS: Between June 2010 and September 2012, eight patients harboring nine basilar artery fenestration aneurysms were consecutively treated. Based on aneurysm morphology (neck size) and its relationship to the fenestration (sparing or not one channel) characterized by 3D-DSA, we proposed a simple classification and treatment strategies. Additionally, a literature review was performed. RESULTS: All patients received endovascular treatment. Most aneurysms involved the vertebrobasilar junction and both channels of the fenestration. A total of 5 aneurysms had wide neck while 4 had narrow neck. Overall, 5 (55.5 %) aneurysms were treated with stent assisted coiling, 3 (33.3 %) aneurysms with selective coiling, and 1 (11.1 %) aneurysm with balloon assisted coiling. We had only 1 (11.1 %) complication, named aneurysm rupture. CONCLUSION: Basilar artery fenestration aneurysms are rare and complex lesions. Endovascular treatment appears to be safe and efficient. The detailed understanding of the aneurysm morphology and its relation to the fenestration is strongly recommended to treatment planning. Further studies are necessary to validate the utility of the proposed classification and treatment strategy.