Management Patterns and Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury With Associated Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) are relatively common in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), uncertainty remains regarding optimal management strategies to prevent neurological complications, morbidity, and mortality. Our objectives were to characterize common care patterns; assess the prevalence of adverse outcomes, including stroke, functional deficits, and death, by BCVI grade; and evaluate therapeutic approaches to treatment in patients with BCVI and TBI. METHODS: Patients with TBI and BCVI treated at our Level I trauma center from January 2016 to December 2020 were identified. Presenting characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were captured for univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Of 323 patients with BCVI, 145 had Biffl grade I, 91 had grade II, 49 had grade III, and 38 had grade IV injuries. Lower-grade BCVIs were more frequently managed with low-dose (81 mg) aspirin ( P < .01), although all grades were predominantly treated with high-dose (150-600 mg) aspirin ( P = .10). Patients with low-grade BCVIs had significantly fewer complications ( P < .01) and strokes ( P < .01). Most strokes occurred in the acute time frame (<24 hours), including 10/11 (90.9%) grade IV-related strokes. Higher BCVI grade portended elevated risk of stroke (grade II odds ratio [OR] 5.3, grade III OR 12.2, and grade IV OR 19.6 compared with grade I; all P < .05). The use of low- or high-dose aspirin was protective against mortality (both OR 0.1, P < .05). CONCLUSION: In patients with TBI, BCVIs impart greater risk for stroke and other associated morbidities as their severity increases. It may prove difficult to mitigate high-grade BCVI-related stroke, considering most events occur in the acute window. The paucity of late time frame strokes suggest that current management strategies do help mitigate risks.

Analysis of treatment cost differences in patients undergoing femoral versus radial access in outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriograms.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriograms are the most common procedure in neuroendovascular surgery, and the use of transradial access for these studies is growing. Although transradial access has been associated with lower hospital costs for elective diagnostic and interventional neuroendovascular procedures, no study has compared transfemoral access and transradial access costs for a homogenous population of patients undergoing outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriogram. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, the Value Driven Outcomes database was used to evaluate treatment costs for patients who underwent outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriogram from January 2019 to December 2022. Propensity-score matching was performed to reduce confounders. Costs from each encounter were subcategorized into imaging, supplies, pharmacy, procedures, labs, and facility costs. RESULTS: After matching, 337 patients each for transradial access and transfemoral access were available for analysis. A total of 118,992 cost data points were associated with all encounters. Overall, per-visit costs were 15.2% cheaper for patients who underwent transradial access versus transfemoral access (p < 0.001). Most of the cost difference was due to supplies (35.2% cost difference, p < 0.001) and procedure costs (9.3% cost difference, p < 0.001). No statistical differences were observed between the two approaches in imaging, pharmacy, labs, and facility costs (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Costs for outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriogram were lower in patients who underwent transradial access versus transfemoral access because of supply and procedure costs. Understanding reasons for cost differences in common procedures is important for creating strategies to reduce overall healthcare costs. Additionally, addressing the cost differences of newer techniques may increase the likelihood that they are more readily implemented by hospitals and providers.

Safety and efficacy of the Pipeline Flex embolization device with Shield Technology for the acute treatment of ruptured internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysms: a multi-institution case series.

OBJECTIVE: Ruptured blister, dissecting, and iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms are rare pathologies that pose significant challenges from a treatment standpoint. Endovascular treatment via flow diversion represents an increasingly popular option; however, drawbacks include the requirement for dual antiplatelet therapy and the potential for thromboembolic complications, particularly acute complications in the ruptured setting. The Pipeline Flex embolization device with Shield Technology (PED-Shield) offers reduced material thrombogenicity, which may aid in the treatment of ruptured internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysms. METHODS: The authors conducted a multi-institution, retrospective case series to determine the safety and efficacy of PED-Shield for the treatment of ruptured blister, dissecting, and iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery. Clinical, radiographic, treatment, and outcomes data were collected. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included in the final analysis. Seventeen underwent placement of a single device, and 16 underwent placement of two devices. No thromboembolic complications occurred. Four patients were maintained on aspirin alone, and all others were treated with long-term dual antiplatelet therapy. Among patients with 3-month follow-up, 93.8% had a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2. Complete occlusion at follow-up was observed in 82.6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: PED-Shield represents a new option for the treatment of ruptured blister, dissecting, and iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery. The reduced material thrombogenicity appeared to improve the safety of the PED-Shield device, as this series demonstrated no thromboembolic complications even among patients treated with only single antiplatelet therapy. The efficacy of PED-Shield reported in this series, particularly with placement of two devices, demonstrates its potential as a first-line treatment option for these pathologies.

Initial experience with Pipeline embolization of intracranial pseudoaneurysms in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: Flow-diverting devices have been used successfully for the treatment of complex intracranial vascular injuries in adults, but the role of these devices in treating iatrogenic and traumatic intracranial vascular injuries in children remains unclear. The authors present their experience using the Pipeline embolization device (PED) for treating intracranial pseudoaneurysms in children. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients with traumatic and iatrogenic injuries to the intracranial vasculature that were treated with the PED between 2015 and 2021. Demographic data, indications for treatment, the number and sizes of PEDs used, follow-up imaging, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Six patients with a median age of 12 years (range 7-16 years) underwent PED placement to treat intracranial pseudoaneurysms. There were 3 patients with hemorrhagic presentation, 2 with ischemia, and 1 in whom a growing pseudoaneurysm was found on angiography. Injured vessels included the anterior cerebral artery (n = 2), the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA, n = 2), the cavernous ICA (n = 1), and the distal cervical ICA (n = 1). All 6 pseudoaneurysms were successfully treated with PED deployment. One patient required re-treatment with a second PED within a week because of concern for a growing pseudoaneurysm. One patient experienced parent vessel occlusion without neurological sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the PED is feasible for the management of iatrogenic and traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the intracranial vasculature in children, even in the setting of hemorrhagic presentation.

Silk Vista Baby for the Treatment of Complex Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of small-caliber vessel lesions using flow diverters remains challenging because of vasculature's narrow luminal diameter and tortuosity. This in turn makes navigation and delivery of conventional devices with standard microcatheters more difficult. The Silk Vista Baby (SVB, Balt) flow diversion device was designed for ease of use in vessels with a smaller diameter, distal lesions, and 0.017 ″ microcatheter delivery systems. OBJECTIVE: To report the outcomes of the SVB device on the treatment of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms. METHODS: Databases from different centers were retrospectively reviewed for PICA aneurysms treated with SVB. Demographic information, clinical presentation, radiographic characteristics, procedural complications, and immediate postprocedure outcomes were obtained. RESULTS: Fourteen patients harboring 15 true PICA aneurysms were treated between January 2019 and June 2021. Nine were female (n = 9/14; 64.2%), and the mean age was 51 ± 14.9 years. Most patients had previously ruptured aneurysms, treated by another endovascular technique. Six aneurysms were located distally (n = 6/15; 40%). The mean neck size was 3 mm (SD 1.35, range 2.5-5 mm), whereas the mean PICA diameter was 1.6 mm (SD 0.26, range 1.5-1.7 mm). The mean length of follow-up was 6 months (SD 8.28, range 4.5-16 months). Treatment-related adverse events included 1 case of transient hypoesthesia. Two additional events were reported, but adjudicated as unrelated to the procedure. Complete occlusion, measured as Raymond-Roy class I, was achieved in all cases. CONCLUSION: The SVB device was safely and effectively used in the treatment of PICA aneurysms. The smaller delivery system profile reduces the risk of procedure complications and creates new treatment options for distal lesions.

Patient-Tailored Stenting versus Endarterectomy for the Treatment of Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis.

Carotid artery stenosis is a major cause of acute ischemic strokes in adults. Given the consequences and sequelae of an acute ischemic stroke, intervention while patients are still asymptomatic is a key opportunity for stroke prevention. Although carotid endarterectomy has been the gold standard of treatment for carotid stenosis for many years, recent advances in carotid stenting technology, practitioner experience, and dual antiplatelet therapy have expanded the use for treatments other than endarterectomy. Review of the current literature has demonstrated that endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting produce overall similar results for the treatment of asymptomatic carotid stenosis, but certain factors may help guide physicians and patients in choosing one treatment over the other. Age 70 years and older, renal disease, poor medication compliance, and unstable plaque features all portend better outcomes from endarterectomy, whereas age under 70 years, high cervical location of disease, cardiac disease, and reliable medication compliance favor stenting. The decision to pursue endarterectomy versus stenting is therefore complex, and although large studies have demonstrated similar outcomes, the approach to treatment of asymptomatic carotid stenosis must be optimized for each individual patient to achieve the best possible outcome.

Predicting Death After Thrombectomy in the Treatment of Acute Stroke.

Introduction: Treatments for acute stroke have significantly improved in the past decade, with emergent thrombectomy emerging as the standard of care. Despite these advancements, death after successful thrombectomy continues to pose a significant problem. Identifying patients least likely to benefit from thrombectomy would improve use of a limited resource and management of patient expectations. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent emergent thrombectomy of either anterior or posterior circulation strokes between January 2012 and January 2017. Relevant patient clinical data was collected and analyzed in a multivariable regression with a primary outcome of death at 90 days. Results: A total of 134 patients underwent emergent endovascular thrombectomy during the study period; sufficient clinical data was available in 111 of the them. Of these, 42 patients died during the 90 day post-procedural period and 69 patients survived this period. The mean NIHSS score at presentation was 14.9 in surviving patients and 19.6 in non-surviving patients (p < 0.002). Surviving patients were less likely to have a history of cancer (4.4% vs. 26.2%, p < 0.002), achieved higher rates of revascularization (78.3% vs. 50.0%, p < 0.003), had a lower rate of hemorrhagic conversion (21.7% vs. 47.6%, p < 0.004), and experienced fewer technical complications during their treatment (7.4% vs. 26.2%, p < 0.01). Overall, there were 16 intraprocedural complications and no procedural deaths. Conclusion: As emergent thrombectomy for the treatment of acute stroke becomes more prevalent, appropriate patient selection will be crucial in the utilization of a limited and costly intervention. Death within 90 days after thrombectomy appears to be more prevalent among patients with higher NIHSS at presentation, those with postprocedural hemorrhage or intraprocedural complications, and those with a history of cancer.

Poor Results of Flow Diversion as Salvage Treatment for Intracranial Aneurysm Rerupture After Surgical Clip Reconstruction.

Rebleeding episodes after a ruptured intracranial aneurysm has been secured are considered a significant source of patient morbidity and mortality. Theoretically, acute treatment with a flow-diversion device may offer a reasonable treatment option to prevent future bleeding and to remodel the diseased vessel segment. The authors identified two patients who underwent emergent treatment with the placement of a Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) in the setting of an acute rebleeding of a ruptured intracranial aneurysm previously treated with clip reconstruction. The first patient was a 50-year-old woman who underwent clip reconstruction for a broad-based right anterior choroidal artery aneurysm measuring approximately 2×8 mm. Clip reconstruction was achieved with a single fenestrated clip. On day 14, the patient experienced a rebleeding episode. She underwent emergent treatment with a single PED but experienced another rebleeding and died. The second patient was a 53-year-old woman who presented with a ruptured dorsal variant blister aneurysm, which was treated with clip reconstruction. On day 22, she experienced a rebleeding episode and underwent emergent treatment using two PEDs in a duplicative fashion. After the procedure, she experienced another acute rebleeding episode and died. The treatment of reruptured intracranial aneurysms in a salvage fashion with emergent placement of PEDs in two patients resulted in good technical placement of the device covering the neck of the aneurysm, yet both patients experienced additional rebleeding and did not survive. Future generations of flow diverters may have more appropriate properties that would allow their use as salvage treatment in the setting of acutely ruptured aneurysms.

Change in the angle of the anterior genu is associated with occlusion rate after Pipeline flow diversion.

OBJECTIVE: The Pipeline embolization device (PED) is a self-expanding mesh stent that diverts blood flow away from an aneurysm; it has been successfully used to treat aneurysms of the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA). PEDs have a remarkable ability to alter regional blood flow along the tortuous segments of the ICA and were incidentally found to alter the angle of the anterior genu after treatment. The authors quantified these changes and explored their implications as they relate to treatment effect. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed cases of aneurysms treated with a PED between the ophthalmic and posterior communicating arteries from 2012 through 2015. The angles of the anterior genu were measured on the lateral projections of cerebral angiograms obtained before and after treatment with a PED. The angles of the anterior genu of patients without aneurysms were used as normal controls. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were identified who had been treated with a PED; 34 (89.5%) had complete obliteration and 4 (10.5%) had persistence of their aneurysm at last follow-up (mean 11.3 months). After treatment, 32 patients had an increase, 3 had a decrease, and 3 had no change in the angle of the anterior genu. The average measured angle of the anterior genu was 36.7° before treatment and 44.3° after treatment (p < 0.0001). The average angle of the anterior genu of control patients was 43.32° (vs 36.7° for the preoperative angle in the patients with aneurysms, p < 0.057). The average change in the angle of patients with postoperative Raymond scores of 1 was 9.10°, as compared with 1.25° in patients with postoperative Raymond scores > 1 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with a PED significantly changes the angle of the anterior genu. An average change of 9.1° was associated with complete obliteration of treated aneurysms. These findings have important implications for the treatment and management of cerebral aneurysm.

Moderate Sedation for Pipeline Embolization of Posterior Circulation Disease: Technical Note from a Single Center.

OBJECTIVE: Flow diversion has been an important addition to endovascular neurosurgery, but its use in the posterior circulation remains controversial. Our goal is to describe the safety and efficacy of moderate sedation during flow diversion for posterior circulation lesions (aneurysms or dissecting pseudoaneurysms). METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent placement of a Pipeline embolization device for a posterior circulation lesion using moderate sedation at a single institution from August 2012 through November 2017. Clinical data and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen consecutive patients were identified: 8 female, 7 male (mean age 52.2 ± 16.3 years, range 15-81). Eleven lesions were located in the vertebral artery, 1 in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, 2 in the posterior cerebral artery, and 1 in the basilar artery. All patients underwent flow diversion with Pipeline embolization devices. One patient experienced an acute occlusion of the basilar artery during the procedure that required revascularization. Mean fluoroscopy time was 35.6 ± 16.5 minutes (range 15.5-75). Mean follow-up time was 12.7 ± 8.8 months (range 3-36). No patient had new neurologic deficits in the perioperative or postoperative period. Conversion to general anesthesia was not required in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate sedation is safe and feasible in patients undergoing flow diversion for posterior circulation lesions. In addition, its use may allow for more rapid identification of procedural complications, facilitating emergent treatment and decreasing procedure-related morbidity.

Arterial Dissection Following the Use of Remote Aspiration Thrombectomy.

Remote aspiration thrombectomy using a balloon guide catheter for acute carotid artery occlusion has been proposed as a safe and effective technique. We present a case of iatrogenic arterial dissection of the distal cervical segment in a patient with proximal vessel occlusion who underwent attempted revascularization using this strategy. A 57-year-old male patient presented with computed tomography (CT) angiogram evidence of a left carotid terminus and M1 segment occlusion. The patient was taken emergently for mechanical thrombectomy. Remote aspiration thrombectomy was attempted twice using manual aspiration through a balloon guide catheter in the common carotid artery; however, this resulted in minimal recanalization of the carotid terminus and a new iatrogenic dissection within the internal carotid artery (ICA) just proximal to the skull base. Despite multiple additional attempts at mechanical thrombectomy, only limited recanalization of the ICA terminus and anterior cerebral artery distribution was achieved, with no significant flow past the M1 segment. After the procedure, a large ischemic territory within the left middle cerebral artery distribution consistent with the continued M1 segment occlusion was apparent on CT. The patient died on the poststroke day 6. Although remote aspiration thrombectomy for thromboemboli in this location has potential benefits, it should be used cautiously given the potential risk of injury to the proximal vasculature.

Posterior communicating artery occlusion and recanalization through a fusiform aneurysm after flow diversion.

Occlusion of branch vessels is a known potential sequela of the treatment of intracranial aneurysms with flow diversion. We present a case of occlusion and distal reconstitution of the origin of the posterior communicating artery through a fusiform aneurysm of the internal carotid artery after flow diversion. A 56-year-old woman was incidentally found to have a large fusiform aneurysm of the posterior communicating segment of the internal carotid artery incorporating the origin of the posterior communicating artery. The aneurysm was treated with placement of a Pipeline flow diverter. Follow-up computed tomography angiogram at 7 months demonstrated no change in aneurysm filling. A follow-up digital subtraction angiogram at 12 months demonstrated occlusion of the native origin of the posterior communicating artery with distal reconstitution through two accessory channels through the aneurysm. The remainder of the aneurysm was thrombosed. The patient had not had any clinical symptoms during this event. The unorganized nature of the thrombus within aneurysms after flow diversion may allow accessory vascular channels to form in the event of occlusion of a side branch.

Intravenous acetaminophen for postoperative supratentorial craniotomy pain: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Acute pain control after cranial surgery is challenging. Prior research has shown that patients experience inadequate pain control post-craniotomy. The use of oral medications is sometimes delayed because of postoperative nausea, and the use of narcotics can impair the evaluation of brain function and thus are used judiciously. Few nonnarcotic intravenous (IV) analgesics exist. The authors present the results of the first prospective study evaluating the use of IV acetaminophen in patients after elective craniotomy. METHODS: The authors conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled investigation. Adults undergoing elective, supratentorial craniotomies between September 2013 and June 2015 were randomized into two groups. The experimental group received 1000 mg/100 ml IV acetaminophen every 8 hours for 48 hours. The placebo group received 100 ml of 0.9% normal saline on the same schedule. Both groups were also treated with a standardized pain control algorithm. The study was powered to detect a 30% difference in the primary outcome measures: narcotic consumption (morphine equivalents, ME) at 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Patient-reported pain scores immediately postoperatively and 48 hours after surgery were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients completed the trial. No significant differences were found in narcotic consumption between groups at either time point (in the treatment and placebo groups, respectively, at 24 hours: 84.3 ME [95% CI 70.2­98.4] and 85.5 ME [95% CI 73­97.9]; and at 48 hours: 123.5 ME [95% CI 102.9­144.2] and 134.2 ME [95% CI 112.1­156.3]). The difference in improvement in patient-reported pain scores between the treatment and placebo groups was significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received postoperative IV acetaminophen after craniotomy did not have significantly decreased narcotic consumption but did experience significantly lower pain scores after surgery. The drug was well tolerated and safe in this patient population.

Postoperative Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy After Left Far-Lateral Craniectomy for Resection of Craniocervical Meningioma.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) is a rare cause of postoperative vision loss, most often seen when surgical patients are placed in the prone position for a prolonged period of time. We report a case of bilateral PION after far-lateral craniectomy in the lateral position. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 36-year-old man presented with a history of right extremity numbness, weakness, and muscle atrophy, and a craniocervical meningioma was diagnosed. Surgery in the lateral position lasted 9 hours, 52 minutes; the patient had 2 L of blood loss. On postoperative day 1, the patient had bilateral vision loss, which prompted further work-up. Diffusion-weighted imaging of the orbits demonstrated restricted diffusion within the bilateral optic nerves. The clinical presentation of painless vision loss after surgery with these imaging findings led to a diagnosis of PION. At the time of discharge, he had not recovered any visual function. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that PION can occur in the lateral position where there is no direct pressure on the orbits. PION is often not discussed as a potential complication during the preoperative consent process. This case suggests it may be prudent to discuss PION in similar neurosurgical cases. Intraoperative blood transfusion should be considered in prolonged surgeries in the lateral position, where slow blood loss over a long period could be a contributing factor to development of PION.

Novel use of flow diversion for the treatment of aneurysms associated with arteriovenous malformations.

The use of flow-diverting stents for intracranial aneurysms has become more prevalent, and flow diverters are now routinely used beyond their initial scope of approval at the proximal internal carotid artery. Although flow diversion for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms is becoming more commonplace, there have been no reports of its use to treat flow-related cerebral aneurysms associated with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The authors report the cases of 2 patients whose AVM-associated aneurysms were managed with flow diversion. A 40-year-old woman presented with a history of headaches that led to the identification of an unruptured Spetzler-Martin Grade V, right parietooccipital AVM associated with 3 aneurysms of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. Initial attempts at balloon-assisted coil embolization of the aneurysms were unsuccessful. The patient underwent placement of a flow-diverting stent across the diseased vessel; a 6-month follow-up angiogram demonstrated complete occlusion of the aneurysms. In the second case, a 57-year-old man presented with new-onset seizures, and an unruptured Spetzler-Martin Grade V, right frontal AVM associated with an irregular, wide-necked anterior communicating artery aneurysm was identified. The patient underwent placement of a flow-diverting stent, and complete occlusion of the aneurysm was observed on a 7-month follow-up angiogram. These 2 cases illustrate the potential for use of flow diversion as a treatment strategy for feeding artery aneurysms associated with AVMs. Because of the need for dual antiplatelet medications after flow diversion in this patient population, however, this strategy should be used judiciously.

Advanced imaging in acute ischemic stroke.

The evaluation and management of acute ischemic stroke has primarily relied on the use of conventional CT and MRI techniques as well as lumen imaging sequences such as CT angiography (CTA) and MR angiography (MRA). Several newer or less-established imaging modalities, including vessel wall MRI, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, and 4D CTA and MRA, are being developed to complement conventional CT and MRI techniques. Vessel wall MRI provides high-resolution analysis of both extracranial and intracranial vasculature to help identify previously occult lesions or characteristics of lesions that may portend a worse natural history. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography can be used in the acute setting as a minimally invasive way of identifying large vessel occlusions or monitoring the response to stroke treatment. It can also be used to assist in the workup for cryptogenic stroke or to diagnose a patent foramen ovale. Four-dimensional CTA and MRA provide a less invasive alternative to digital subtraction angiography to determine the extent of the clot burden and the degree of collateral blood flow in large vessel occlusions. Along with technological advances, these new imaging modalities are improving the diagnosis, workup, and management of acute ischemic stroke- roles that will continue to expand in the future.

Complications in Endovascular Neurosurgery: Critical Analysis and Classification.

BACKGROUND: Precisely defining complications, which are used to measure overall quality, is necessary for critical review of delivery of care and quality improvement in endovascular neurosurgery, which lacks common definitions for complications. Furthermore, in endovascular interventions, events that may be labeled complications may not always negatively affect outcome. Our objective is to provide precise definitions for quality evaluation within endovascular neurosurgery. Thus, we propose an endovascular-specific classification system of complications based on our own patient series. METHODS: This single-center review included all patients who had endovascular interventions from September 2013 to August 2015. Complication types were analyzed, and a descriptive analysis was undertaken to calculate the incidence of complications overall and in each category. RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy-five endovascular interventions were performed in 245 patients (65% female; mean age, 55 years). Forty complications occurred in 39 patients (15%), most commonly during treatment of intracranial aneurysms (24/40). Mechanical complications (eg, device deployment, catheter, or closure device failure) occurred in 8/40, technical complications (eg, failure to deploy flow diverter, unintended embolization, air emboli, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, dissection) in 11/40, judgment errors (eg, patient or equipment selection) in 9/40, and critical events (eg, groin hematoma, hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications) in 12/40 patients. Only 12/40 complications (30%) resulted in new neurologic deficits, vessel injury requiring surgery, or blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: We propose an endovascular-specific classification system of complications with 4 categories: mechanical, technical, judgment errors, and critical events. This system provides a framework for future studies and quality control in endovascular neurosurgery.

Patterns and Clinical Impact of Angiographically Visible Distal Emboli During Thrombectomy With Solitaire for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Revascularization rates with stent retrievers after acute ischemic stroke are 69% to 86%, but favorable clinical outcomes occur in just 43% to 58% of cases. New distal emboli may negatively impact clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and angiographic pattern of distal emboli associated with mechanical thrombectomy using the Solitaire Flow Restoration device and evaluate their correlation with clinical outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the cerebral angiography of all patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the use of the Solitaire FR device from 2012 to 2013. Angiographic microcatheter runs prior to Solitaire deployment and after thrombectomy were compared to identify new distal filling defects. Clinical outcome was assessed at discharge and after 90 days. RESULTS: Successful revascularization using the Solitaire device occurred in 36 of 39 patients (92%). Three distinct patterns were identified: new distal emboli in the same vascular territory (n = 3), new distal emboli in a new vascular territory (n = 3), and distal emboli that resolved after proximal revascularization (n = 7). Thirteen patients had distal emboli before and after Solitaire runs, and 13 showed no evidence of distal emboli. Favorable outcome (modified Rankin scores 0-2) was seen in 54% of all patients and 83% of patients with new distal emboli; thus, there was no correlation between new emboli and unfavorable clinical outcome (P = .67). CONCLUSION: We report an incidence rate of at least 15% of new emboli associated with use of the Solitaire device during thrombectomy in our series. Filling defects after Solitaire use were not associated with poor outcomes at discharge or 90-day follow-up.

Pipeline embolization device for the treatment of vertebral artery aneurysms: the fate of covered branch vessels.

INTRODUCTION: Preliminary studies suggest that flow-diverting stents may be suitable for the treatment of aneurysms of the posterior circulation. The safety and efficacy of using flow-diverting stents for vertebral artery (VA) aneurysms is not well defined. OBJECTIVE: To examine the fate of covering the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in patients undergoing placement of a flow-diverting stent for VA aneurysm. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent placement of a Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) for treatment of an aneurysm of the V4 segment of the VA between April 2012 and June 2015 at our institution were retrospectively evaluated. Angiograms were reviewed to determine the patency of the PICA when the vessel origin was covered by the PED. RESULTS: 11 patients with VA aneurysms who underwent treatment with the PED were identified. In each case the device covered the origin of the PICA. Follow-up angiography in eight patients demonstrated thrombosis of the aneurysm with patency of the PICA. CONCLUSIONS: Flow-diverting stents can be used for the treatment of VA aneurysms. When appropriately sized to the vessel wall and positioned in the VA, the device may cover the origin of the PICA without impairing flow through the branching artery.

Prevalence and natural history of arachnoid cysts in adults.

OBJECT: Arachnoid cysts are a frequent finding on intracranial imaging. The prevalence and natural history of these cysts in adults are not well defined. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of a consecutive series of adults who underwent brain MRI over a 12-year interval to identify those with arachnoid cysts. The MRI studies were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis. For those patients with arachnoid cysts, we evaluated presenting symptoms, cyst size, and cyst location. Patients with more than 6 months' clinical and imaging follow-up were included in a natural history analysis. RESULTS: A total of 48,417 patients underwent brain MRI over the study period. Arachnoid cysts were identified in 661 patients (1.4%). Men had a higher prevalence than women (p < 0.0001). Multiple arachnoid cysts occurred in 30 patients. The most common locations were middle fossa (34%), retrocerebellar (33%), and convexity (14%). Middle fossa cysts were predominantly left-sided (70%, p < 0.001). Thirty-five patients were considered symptomatic and 24 underwent surgical treatment. Sellar and suprasellar cysts were more likely to be considered symptomatic (p < 0.0001). Middle fossa cysts were less likely to be considered symptomatic (p = 0.01. The criteria for natural history analysis were met in 203 patients with a total of 213 cysts. After a mean follow-up of 3.8 ± 2.8 years (for this subgroup), 5 cysts (2.3%) increased in size and 2 cysts decreased in size (0.9%). Only 2 patients developed new or worsening symptoms over the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Arachnoid cysts are a common incidental finding on intracranial imaging in all age groups. Although arachnoid cysts are symptomatic in a small number of patients, they are associated with a benign natural history for those presenting without symptoms.