Utilisation of a balloon-mounted coronary stent in the treatment of a patient with petrous carotid artery dissection.

A man in his 50s presented with acute left-sided weakness, facial drooping and slurred speech, suggestive of a major stroke. Imaging revealed a complete blockage in the right internal carotid artery (ICA) due to dissection. Perfusion studies showed a significant area at risk of infarction. Attempted navigation of standard carotid stents failed due to the tortuosity of the ICA. A balloon-mounted coronary stent was successfully deployed in the petrous ICA segment, restoring blood flow. A follow-up MRI confirmed stent patency, and the patient achieved complete recovery with return to baseline function. Symptomatic carotid artery dissections can be treated with stenting to prevent strokes, however, tortuous ICAs in distal dissections pose a technical challenge. Balloon-mounted coronary stents, though not approved for this use, can offer a feasible solution. This case highlights the need for further research and development of devices for managing dissections in distal locations in tortuous ICAs.

[Craniocervical dissection]. / Dissektionen der hirnversorgenden Gefäße.

CLINICAL ISSUE: Craniocervical dissections are among the most common causes of stroke in people aged under 50 years, which is why it is essential to clarify, diagnose, and treat them as quickly as possible. Dissections usually occur spontaneously due to bleeding into the vessel wall. The affected segments are usually the motion segments of the internal cerebral artery (C1 segment) and the vertebral artery (V3 segment). Clinically, there is head and/or neck pain and neurologic symptoms, which can vary according to the localization of the dissection. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Pathognomonic is the detection of an intramural hematoma due to bleeding into the vessel wall. This can best be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in native, fat-saturated T1 sequences (black-blood sequence). In addition, contrast-enhanced angiography should be performed using MRI or, alternatively, computed tomography (CT). As there is an increased risk of embolic or hemodynamically induced strokes, prophylactic treatment should be initiated immediately; it remains a case-by-case decision whether antiplatelet agents or oral anticoagulants are chosen for this purpose.

Cervical Dissection in Patients With Tandem Lesions Is Associated With Distal Embolism and Lower Recanalization Success.

BACKGROUND: Tandem lesions consist of cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis or occlusion, most commonly of atherosclerosis or dissection etiology, plus a large vessel occlusion. In this study, we compare outcomes in patients with atherosclerosis versus dissection of the cervical ICA. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study includes data from tandem lesion patients who underwent endovascular treatment from 2015 to 2020. Atherosclerosis was defined as ICA stenosis/occlusion associated with a calcified lesion and dissection by the presence of a tapered or flame-shaped lesion and intramural hematoma. Primary outcome: 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2); secondary outcomes: 90-day favorable shift in the modified Rankin Scale score, modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3, modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2c-3, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, parenchymal hematoma type 2, petechial hemorrhage, distal embolization, early neurological improvement, and mortality. Analysis was performed with matching by inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: We included 526 patients (68 [59-76] years; 31% females); 11.2% presented dissection and 88.8%, atherosclerosis. Patients with dissection were younger, had lower rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking history. They also exhibited higher rates of ICA occlusion, multiple stents (>1), and lower rates of carotid self-expanding stents. After matching and adjusting for covariates, there were no differences in 90-day functional independence. The rate of successful recanalization was significantly lower in the dissection group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.16-0.91]; P=0.031), which also had significantly higher rates of distal emboli (adjusted odds ratio, 2.53 [95% CI, 1.15-5.55]; P=0.021). There were no differences in other outcomes. Acute ICA stenting seemed to increase the effect of atherosclerosis in successful recanalization. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that among patients with acute stroke with tandem lesions, cervical ICA dissection is associated with higher rates of distal embolism and lower rates of successful recanalization than atherosclerotic lesions. Using techniques to minimize the risk of distal embolism may mitigate this contrast. Further prospective randomized trials are warranted to fully understand these associations.

Placement of Endovascular Stent for Reperfusion of Cerebral Infarct After Pediatric Traumatic Internal Carotid Artery Dissection.

Background: Traumatic intracranial ICA dissections are not commonly seen in children. Dissection resulting in perfusion deficit warrants intervention. Here we encountered a patient who experienced traumatic ICA dissection, treated by endovascular stenting. Methods: A 10-year-old female presented with aphasia and right sided weakness following trauma. Imaging showed deficit in the left MCA territory without core. Further imaging showed dissection of the left supraclinoid ICA, confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. Results: A Neuroform Atlas stent was placed without complication. All dysarthria and weakness had resolved on follow-up 5 months post-stenting. Conclusions: Acute stroke symptoms in children can result in lasting deficits if not treated quickly. Medical management is regarded to be first line, depending on presentation. Endovascular stenting may provide a promising means to treat pediatric ICA dissections involving perfusion deficits and mitigate permanent ischemic changes.

Classification and management strategy of spontaneous carotid artery dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous carotid artery dissections (sCADs) are the common cause of stroke in middle-aged and young people. There is still a lack of clinical classification to guide the management of sCAD. We reviewed our experience with 179 patients with sCAD and proposed a new classification for sCAD with prognostic and therapeutic significance. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from June 2018 to June 2023 of patients with sCAD treated at a large tertiary academic institution in an urban city in China. Based on imaging results, we categorize sCAD into four types: type Ⅰ, intramural hematoma or dissection with <70% luminal narrowing; type Ⅱ, intramural hematoma or dissection with ≥70% luminal narrowing; type Ⅲ, dissecting aneurysm; type ⅣA, extracranial carotid artery occlusion; and type ⅣB, tandem occlusion. We compared the clinical data and prognostic outcomes among various types of sCADs. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients and 197 dissected arteries met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the 179 patients with sCAD was 49.5 years, 78% were male, and 18 patients (10%) had bilateral sCAD. According to our classification, there were 56 type Ⅰ (28.4%), 50 type Ⅱ (25.4%), 60 type Ⅲ (30.5%), and 31 type Ⅳ (15.7%) dissections. During a mean hospitalization length of 11.4 ± 47.0 days, there were nine recurrent strokes (4.6%) after medical treatment, two type Ⅲ dissections (1.0%), seven type Ⅳ dissections (3.6%), all ipsilateral, and one death. Overall, there were seven (3.6%, 1 type Ⅰ dissection, 3 type Ⅱ dissections, 2 type Ⅲ dissections, and 1 type Ⅳ dissection) recurrent strokes and three (1.5%, all type Ⅲ dissections) recurrent transient ischemic attacks in patients treated with just medical therapy during the follow-up period, all ipsilateral, with a mean follow-up of 26 months (range, 3-59 months). These patients did not undergo further intervention due to the high difficulty associated with endovascular treatment (EVT) or the mild nature of recurrent cerebral ischemic symptoms. Twenty-nine type I dissections (51.8%) were completely recanalized after antithrombotic therapy. A total of 19 type II dissections (38%) and 44 type III dissections (73%) received EVT for persistent flow-limited dissections, enlargement of dissecting aneurysms, or aggravation of neurological symptoms despite antithrombotic therapy. Type Ⅳ dissections are more likely to lead to the occurrence of ischemic stroke and presented with more severe symptoms. Eight type IVB dissections (33%) received acute phase intervention due to distal thromboembolism or aggravation of neurological symptoms after medical treatment. In terms of cerebral ischemic events and mortality, there were no statistically significant differences among the four types of sCAD (all P > .05). Favorable outcome was achieved in 168 patients (93.9%). CONCLUSIONS: This study proposed a novel and more comprehensive classification method and the modern management strategy for sCAD. Antithrombotic therapy is beneficial to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke for stable sCAD. Non-emergent EVT can be an alternative therapeutic approach for patients who meet indications as in type II to IVA dissections. Urgent procedure with neurovascular intervention is necessary for some type IVB dissections. The short-term results of EVT for sCAD are encouraging, and long-term device-related and functional outcomes should undergo further research.

Endovascular Treatment for Spontaneous bilateral carotid artery dissection with acute ischemic stroke: A Case Report with automated postprocessing CT perfusion findings and Review of the Literature.

Carotid artery dissection (CAD) is a common cause of stroke, accounting for up to 25% of all ischemic strokes in young and middle-aged patients. CAD should be considered in young patients with unexplained head and neck pain, with or without focal neurological symptoms and signs. While the clinical features may raise suspicion for CAD, the diagnosis is confirmed by its typical neuroimaging findings. Meanwhile, simultaneous spontaneous dissection of the bilateral carotid artery has rarely been reported. We herein describe a clinically challenging case of a simultaneous bilateral CAD that was successfully treated with bilateral carotid artery stenting (CAS). The patient recovered satisfactorily after completing the whole course of treatment. Keywords: Acute stroke, Bilateral Spontaneous carotid artery dissection, Endovascular treatment.

Long-term outcome of cervical artery dissection.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the natural history of extracranial cervical artery dissection (CAD) including comorbidities, symptoms at presentation, recurrence of symptoms, and long-term outcome following different treatment approaches. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients treated for acute CAD was performed over a 5-year period from January 2017 to April 2022. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were included in the study, 25 (64.1%) with acute internal carotid artery dissection and 14 (35.9%) with acute vertebral artery dissection. Thirty-four patients (87.1%) had spontaneous CAD, and five patients (12.8%) had traumatic CAD. The mean age of the cohort was 54.2 years. The mean time from symptom onset to presentation was 4.34 days. The most common symptoms in internal carotid artery dissection were unilateral weakness (44%), headache (44%), slurred speech (36%), facial droop (28%), unilateral paraesthesia (24%), neck pain (12%), visual disturbance (8%), and Horner's syndrome (8%). The most common symptoms in vertebral artery dissection were headache (35.7%), neck pain (35.7%), vertigo (28.57%), ataxia (14.28%), and slurred speech (14.28%). The imaging modalities used for diagnosis included computed tomography angiography (48.7%), magnetic resonance angiography (41%), and duplex ultrasound (10.2%). In patients with carotid artery dissection, 57% had severe stenosis, 24% had moderate stenosis, and 20% had mild stenosis. All patients treated were managed conservatively with either anticoagulation or antiplatelets. Long-term clinical follow-up was available for 33 patients (84.6%). Thirty patients (90.9%) reported complete resolution of symptoms, and three patients (9%) reported persistent symptoms. Anatomic follow-up with imaging was available for 17 patients (43.58%). Thirteen patients (76.47%) had complete resolution of dissection, two patients (11.76%) had partial resolution of dissection, and two patients (11.76%) had persistent dissection. There was one death unrelated to CAD in a multi-trauma patient. There were four early recurrent symptoms in the first 3 to 8 weeks post discharge. The mean follow-up time was 308.27 days. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of CADs can be managed conservatively with good clinical and anatomical outcome and low rates of recurrence.

Current Treatment Results of Intracranial Carotid Artery Dissection Causing Cerebral Ischemia: A Japanese Nationwide Survey.

Intracranial carotid artery dissection causing cerebral ischemia is a rare but important cause of cerebral infarction in children and adolescents. Although endovascular therapy has been reported to be effective, questions regarding the indications for intervention are yet to be addressed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate factors related to clinical outcomes through a nationwide survey. Overall, 35 neurosurgical centers reported patients within 2 weeks after ischemic onset due to intracranial carotid artery dissection causing cerebral ischemia treated between January 2015 and December 2020. Data on clinical and radiological findings were statistically analyzed. Twenty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 36 years (range, 7-59 years), without sex differences. Headache at onset was documented in 60.7% of the patients. Dissection findings were categorized into stenosis (71.4%) or occlusion (28.6%). Initial treatments, including various antithrombotic agent combinations in 23 (82.1%) patients, effectively improved or prevented aggravation in half of the patients. The patients with stenotic dissection were significantly more likely to experience aggravation during the initial treatment than did those with occlusive dissection (P = 0.03). In addition, the patients with moderate to severe neurological deficits on admission had poorer outcomes at discharge more frequently than did those with mild neurological deficits on admission. Eight patients undergoing endovascular therapy had no procedural complications or further aggravation after intervention. In conclusion, patients with intracranial carotid dissection causing cerebral ischemia who had a stenotic dissection were at risk of further aggravation, and endovascular therapy effectively improved or prevented aggravation.

Concurrent subarachnoid haemorrhage and internal carotid artery dissection: a transcranial colour-coded sonography diagnosis.

We report the case of a young woman affected by an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and numerous anatomic abnormalities. A Transcranial Colour-Coded Duplex Sonography, performed with the aim of monitoring the vasospasm, showed a non-pulsatile flow with loss of sharp systolic peak and lowering of mean flow velocities in the right extracranial Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) and all its intra-cranial branches. This event suggested a possible concomitant acute right ICA sub-occlusion with a lack of collateral circulation. This type of flow is typically found in systemic and brain arteries of patients undergoing to venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or to left ventricular assist devices. The absence of an adequate cerebral collateral circulation might be the explanation for this type of atypical flow. Aneurysms and arterial dissections contribute to SAH and ischemic stroke events, leading to long-term physical and cognitive disability. In our case, the prompt neurosonological diagnosis leaded to patient's good outcome.

Carotid Artery Dissection and Aneurysm with Styloid Process Fracture.

Background: Mechanical stimulation may lead to internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection and aneurysm. Case Description: We encountered a rare case of ICA dissection and aneurysm with prolonged styloid process (SP) fracture. A 37-year-old sales worker presented with right-sided amaurosis fugax. After admission to a nearby optical clinic, he was admitted to our hospital. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography showed dissection and apparent aneurysmal change in the right cervical portion of the ICA. CTA also showed elongated SPs, so we diagnosed Eagle's syndrome, and fracture of the right-side process. After 2 weeks of antiplatelet therapy, the aneurysm enlarged and dissection remained, so we treated the patient with coil embolization and stenting. Conclusion: We encountered a rare case of ICA dissection and aneurysm with Eagle's syndrome. Endovascular treatment was performed because the SP was fractured.

Traumatic Dissection of Arterial Cervical Vessels: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

Even though traumatic dissection of cervical arterial vessels is themajor cause of stroke among adults, it is still an underdiagnosed disease in neurosurgical emergencies, since most patients do not have or present subtle clinical signs in the acute phase. The authors report two interesting cases of cervical artery dissection with different traumatic mechanisms and present a broad literature review about this subject.

Use of flow diverter stent for treatment of a cervical carotid artery dissection and pseudoaneurysm causing Horner's syndrome.

A 28-year-old man in 2004 was identified with a spontaneous pseudoaneurysm and distal left cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection. The patient was followed conservatively for 12 years with cross-sectional imaging. The patient was initially diagnosed with an acute left ICA dissection, with significant luminal narrowing. Follow-up imaging revealed the dissection was not completely healed, and a small pseudoaneurysm, about 4 mm in size, was formed in the distal left cervical ICA. During the 12-year observation period, the patient's pseudoaneurysm expanded from 4.0 mm to 9.0 mm, and the patient presented with ptosis, anisocoria and myosis. Flow diverter embolisation resulted in a radiographic cure of the pseudoaneurysm and resolution of Horner's syndrome.

Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection in Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare inherited connective tissue disorder because of pathogenic variants in the COL3A1 gene. Arterial complications can affect all anatomic areas and about 25% involve supra-aortic trunks (SATs) but no systematic assessment of cervical artery lesions has been made. The primary objective was to determine an accurate prevalence of spontaneous SAT lesions in a large series of patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at diagnosis and during follow-up. Secondary objectives were to study their neurological consequences (transient ischemic attack or stroke) and the possible relationships with sex, genotype, ascertainment status. METHODS: A retrospective review of a monocentric cohort of patients with molecularly proven vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome followed in a tertiary referral center from 2000 to 2017. RESULTS: One hundred forty-four patients were analyzed, 56.9% (n=82) had SAT lesions: 64.6% females, 74.4% index-case patients. Most lesions were identified in early arterial assessment (48% at first work-up, mean age of 35.7±13.0 years). Cumulative incidence of a first identification of a SAT lesion was 41.7% at 40 years old. On the complete period of survey, 183 SAT lesions (with 132 dissections and 33 aneurysms) were identified, mainly in internal carotid arteries (56.3%) and vertebral arteries (28.9%), more rarely in patients with COL3A1 null mutations (P=0.008). Transient ischemic attack or stroke were reported in n=16 (19.5%) of the 82 patients with SAT lesions without relation with age, sex, treatment, or hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical artery lesions are frequent and mostly asymptomatic in patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Local dissections and aneurysms are the most frequent type of lesions, but transient ischemic attack or stroke seem rare.

Development of Internal Carotid Artery Dissection During Masturbation.

Sexual intercourse is known as one of the daily activities triggering spontaneous cervicocephalic artery dissection (sCAD), however, it has been unclear if masturbation can trigger the development of sCAD. Herein, we report a case of sCAD in association with masturbation. A 51-year-old right-handed man developed subarachnoid hemorrhage during masturbation. The dissection of the left internal carotid artery was evident on the 9th hospital day. Finally, he was treated with stenting and coiling and discharged with a good prognosis.

A Rare Case of Oculomotor Nerve Palsy after Endovascular Treatment in a Patient with Internal Carotid Artery Dissection.

BACKGROUND: The oculomotor nerve has two major fibers: the outer autonomic fiber innervates the ciliary muscles and sphincter pupillae involved in pupil constriction, and the inner somatic fiber innervates the levator palpebrae superioris in the eyelid and four extraocular muscles involved in oculomotor dysfunction. We present a rare case of oculomotor nerve palsy with internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection and discuss the vascular anatomical feature of interest to be considered during treatment. CASE REPORT: A 56-year-old man presented with language impairment, right visual field loss, and right-sided facial sensory loss, weakness, and hypesthesia 30 hours after the last seen normal. CT perfusion imaging revealed a large left middle cerebral artery distribution and possible salvageable ischemic penumbra. Angiography showed occlusion of the communicating segment of the left ICA. We performed mechanical thrombectomy for left ICA occlusion that led to partial recanalization after several attempts. A control digital subtraction angiography showed dissection features in the communicating part of the left ICA. The recanalized ICA got blocked again within ten minutes. Angioplasty was performed and the flow improved. Five hours after thrombectomy, the patient developed complete left oculomotor palsy with ptosis, a fixed mydriatic pupil, and lateral and downwards eyeball deviation suggesting oculomotor nerve palsy. MRI on the 23rd day after symptom onset revealed enhancement of the left oculomotor nerve. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and imaging course described in this case shows an injury to the oculomotor nerve with compressive plus ischemic injury in a patient with ICA dissection who received endovascular treatment.

Treatment Approaches and Outcomes for Acute Anterior Circulation Stroke Patients with Tandem Lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has revolutionized stroke care for large vessel occlusions (LVOs). However, over half treated remain functionally disabled or die. Patients with tandem lesions, or severe stenosis/occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) with intracranial LVO, may have technical EVT challenges and worse outcomes. We sought to compare treatments and outcomes for patients with anterior circulation tandem lesions versus isolated LVOs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive tandem lesion and isolated intracranial LVO patients were identified at a single center. Demographics, medical history, presentations, treatments, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: From 381 EVT patients, 62 had tandem lesions related to atherosclerosis (74%) or dissection (26%). Compared to isolated intracranial LVOs, they were younger (63 vs 70, p = 0.003), had less atrial fibrillation (13% vs 40%, p < 0.0001), less adequate reperfusion (TICI 2b-3, 58% vs 82%, p < 0.0001), more intracranial hemorrhage (ICH, 13% vs 5%, p = 0.037), but similar 90-day functional independence (mRS 0-2, 34% vs 43%, p = 0.181). The cervical ICA was treated before intracranial EVT (57%), after (13%), not acutely (22%), or was inaccessible (8%). Acute cervical ICA treatments were stenting (57%) or angioplasty alone (13%). Neither acute stenting nor order of treatment was associated with outcomes (TICI 2b-3, ICH, or 90-day mRS 0-2). Among acutely stented, neither alteplase nor antiplatelets were associated with outcomes or stent patency. CONCLUSIONS: Tandem lesions were associated with less reperfusion, more ICH, but similar 90-day functional independence. No treatment approach was associated with outcomes. These data illustrate the technical challenges of tandem lesion treatment and underscore the importance of developing new approaches.