Association between Carotid Bifurcation Angle and Vulnerable Plaque Volume Using Black Blood Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The morphology of the internal carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation is increasingly being recognized as the cause of atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque leading to cerebral infarction. In this study, we investigated the relationship between carotid bifurcation angle and carotid plaque volume evaluated using black blood magnetic resonance imaging (BB-MRI). Among the 90 patients who underwent revascularization for atherosclerotic symptomatic carotid stenosis between April 2016 and October 2022 using BB-MRI, carotid plaque was evaluated in 57 patients. Relative overall signal intensity (roSI) was defined as the signal intensity of the plaque on T1-weighted images relative to the signal intensity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the same slice as the common carotid bifurcation. Regions showing roSI ≥ 1.0 were defined as plaque, and the plaque volume and relative plaque volume were measured from roSI ≥1.0 to ≥2.0 in 0.1 increments. We calculated the angles between the common carotid artery (CCA) and the ICA and between the CCA and the external carotid artery (ECA) on magnetic resonance angiography. We classified two groups according to carotid bifurcation angles based on the ICA angle: Group A = <35° and Group B = ≥35°. Compared with Group A (n = 42), Group B (n = 15) showed a greater relative plaque volume between roSI ≥ 1.3 and roSI ≥ 1.5. A significant correlation was identified between relative plaque volume with roSI ≥ 1.4 and ICA angle (p = 0.049). Vulnerable plaque was significantly more frequent in the group with an ICA angle of ≥35. Moreover, the ICA angle was significantly greater in patients with a roSI of ≥1.4.

Preoperative elevated eosinophils in peripheral blood for prediction of postoperative recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common neurological disease with a significant postoperative recurrence rate. There are numerous reported studies of the development of CSDH. In recent years, fibrinolysis, angiogenesis, and inflammation have all been identified as relevant factors in the development of CSDH. While several authors have reported risk factors associated with CSDH recurrence, differential blood count of leukocytes has not yet been discussed. Therefore, in this study the authors aimed to retrospectively investigate the association between differential blood leukocyte count and the rate of CSDH recurrence. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 476 patients with 529 CSDHs who underwent surgery at a single institution between January 2011 and December 2021. After exclusion of patients who had not undergone a differential blood test of leukocytes preoperatively, CSDHs in 517 cerebral hemispheres of 466 patients were included in the study. Peripheral blood eosinophil counts ≥ 100/µL were considered eosinophil rich. RESULTS: CSDHs in 494 cerebral hemispheres of 445 patients were followed up postoperatively for at least 3 months or until resolution indicated by CSDH disappearance. Postoperative recurrence of CSDH was observed in 46 cerebral hemispheres (9.3%). Among the preoperative differential blood counts of all leukocytes, eosinophils alone were significantly associated with CSDH recurrence (median [IQR] 76/µL [30-155/µL] vs 119/µL [39-217/µL]; p = 0.03). Multivariable regression analysis showed thrombocytopenia (adjusted OR [aOR] 5.23, 95% CI 1.85-14.79; p = 0.002), use of anticoagulant drugs (aOR 2.51, 95% CI 1.17-5.38; p = 0.02), hematoma volume (10 mL per increase) (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.16; p = 0.04), and eosinophil-rich peripheral blood (aOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.17-4.23; p = 0.02) were all independent predictors for CSDH recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that preoperative peripheral blood eosinophil count was an independent risk factor for CSDH recurrence. Therefore, patients with CSDH who have elevated eosinophils preoperatively in peripheral blood require careful follow-up.

Clinical Presentation, Treatment, and Outcome of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Patients with Preceding Antithrombotic Therapy.

With the aging of the population, the number of people taking antithrombotic drugs is increasing. Few reports have described the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in patients with preceding antithrombotic therapy. This study included 459 patients with nontraumatic SAH who had been treated between April 2009 and May 2021. Overall, 39 of the 459 patients with aneurysmal SAH were on antithrombotic therapy before ictus (8.5%). Therefore, we classified patients into two groups: Group A (n = 39), patients with preceding antithrombotic therapy and Group B (n = 420), patients without preceding antithrombotic therapy. Hunt and Kosnik (H&K) grade on admission was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (p = 0.02). Patients in Group A more frequently received endovascular treatment. The rate of endovascular therapy for symptomatic vasospasm after SAH was significantly lower in Group A (2.6%) than in Group B (15.5%; p = 0.03). The outcomes at 3 months after onset were significantly poorer in Group A patients than in Group B patients (p = 0.03). Patients with preceding antithrombotic drugs tended to be at greater risk of unfavorable outcomes, but this difference was not significant in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, patient age, H&K grade ≥4, and subdural hematoma remained as risk factors for poor outcomes; however, preceding use of antithrombotic drugs was not a significant risk factor.

Transarterial embolization for convexity dural arteriovenous fistula with or without pial arterial supply: A report of four patients.

Background: Convexity dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) usually reflux into cortical veins without involving the venous sinuses. Although direct drainage ligation is curative, transarterial embolization (TAE) may be an alternative treatment. Case Description: Between September 2018 and January 2021, we encountered four patients with convexity dAVFs. They were three males and one female; their age ranged from 36 to 73 years. The initial symptom was headache (n = 1) or seizure (n = 2); one patient was asymptomatic. In all patients, the feeders were external carotid arteries with drainage into the cortical veins; in two patients, there was pial arterial supply from the middle cerebral artery. All patients were successfully treated by TAE alone using either Onyx or N-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization. Two patients required two sessions. All dAVFs were completely occluded and follow-up MRI or angiograms confirmed no recurrence. Conclusion: Our small series suggests that TAE with a liquid embolic material is an appropriate first-line treatment in patients with convexity dAVFs with or without pial arterial supply.

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to segmental arterial mediolysis of an ovarian artery pseudoaneurysm and concomitant aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the most severe neurosurgical diseases in which systemic management is important from the acute phase to the chronic phase. The authors reported a case of aneurysmal SAH associated with intra-abdominal hemorrhage possibly caused by segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM). OBSERVATIONS: A 60-year-old woman collapsed suddenly at home. On arrival at our hospital, she was comatose and her head computed tomography (CT) showed SAH, probably from an anterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Simultaneous body CT to screen for pneumonia associated with COVID-19 incidentally detected an intra-abdominal hematoma and the bleeding point. Emergent ventriculostomy was conducted first. Because abdominal angiography detected a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of an ovarian artery, emergency embolization was subsequently performed for hemostasis. However, she deteriorated again, and her pupils became fully dilated. The patient died on day 3 of hospitalization. LESSONS: Patients with aneurysmal SAH rarely have intra-abdominal hemorrhage in the acute stage and may have a fatal outcome. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage should be suspected in the setting of unstable vital signs, and prompt treatment is necessary.

An Older Thrombus Delays Reperfusion after Mechanical Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis is a dynamic process, and a thrombus undergoes physical and biochemical changes that may alter its response to reperfusion therapy. This study assessed whether thrombus age influenced reperfusion quality and outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy for cerebral embolism. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 185 stroke patients and thrombi that were collected during mechanical thrombectomy at three stroke centers. Thrombi were pathologically classified as fresh or older based on their granulocytes' nuclear morphology and organization. Thrombus components were quantified, and the extent of NETosis (the process of neutrophil extracellular trap formation) was assessed using the density of citrullinated histone H3-positive cells. Baseline patient characteristics, thrombus features, endovascular procedures, and functional outcomes were compared according to thrombus age. RESULTS: Fresh thrombi were acquired from 43 patients, and older thrombi were acquired from 142 patients. Older thrombi had a lower erythrocyte content (p < 0.001) and higher extent of NETosis (p = 0.006). Restricted mean survival time analysis revealed that older thrombi were associated with longer puncture-to-reperfusion times (difference: 15.6 minutes longer for older thrombi, p = 0.002). This association remained significant even after adjustment for erythrocyte content and the extent of NETosis (adjusted difference: 10.8 minutes, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6-21.1 minutes, p = 0.039). Compared with fresh thrombi, older thrombi required more device passes before reperfusion (p < 0.001) and were associated with poorer functional outcomes (adjusted common odds ratio: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.24-0.99). CONCLUSION: An older thrombus delays reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. Adding therapies targeting thrombus maturation may improve the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy.

Incidence and clinical characteristics of spinal arteriovenous shunts: hospital-based surveillance in Okayama, Japan.

OBJECTIVE: There have been no accurate surveillance data regarding the incidence rate of spinal arteriovenous shunts (SAVSs). Here, the authors investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of SAVSs. METHODS: The authors conducted multicenter hospital-based surveillance as an inventory survey at 8 core hospitals in Okayama Prefecture between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2019. Consecutive patients who lived in Okayama and were diagnosed with SAVSs on angiographic studies were enrolled. The clinical characteristics and the incidence rates of each form of SAVS and the differences between SAVSs at different spinal levels were analyzed. RESULTS: The authors identified a total of 45 patients with SAVSs, including 2 cases of spinal arteriovenous malformation, 5 cases of perimedullary arteriovenous fistula (AVF), 31 cases of spinal dural AVF (SDAVF), and 7 cases of spinal epidural AVF (SEAVF). The crude incidence rate was 0.234 per 100,000 person-years for all SAVSs including those at the craniocervical junction (CCJ) level. The incidence rate of SDAVF and SEAVF combined increased with advancing age in men only. In a comparative analysis between upper and lower spinal SDAVF/SEAVF, hemorrhage occurred in 7/14 cases (50%) at the CCJ/cervical level and in 0/24 cases (0%) at the thoracolumbar level (p = 0.0003). Venous congestion appeared in 1/14 cases (7%) at the CCJ/cervical level and in 23/24 cases (96%) at the thoracolumbar level (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The authors reported detailed incidence rates of SAVSs in Japan. There were some differences in clinical characteristics of SAVSs in the upper spinal levels and those in the lower spinal levels.

Case Report: Bow Hunter's Syndrome Caused by Compression of Extracranially Originated Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery.

Bow hunter's syndrome (BHS) is most commonly caused by compression of the vertebral artery (VA). It has not been known to occur due to an extracranially originated posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), the first case of which we present herein. A 71-year-old man presented with reproducible dizziness on leftward head rotation, indicative of BHS. On radiographic examination, the bilateral VAs merged into the basilar artery, and the left VA was predominant. The right PICA originated extracranially from the right VA at the atlas-axis level and ran vertically into the spinal canal. During the head rotation that induced dizziness, the right PICA was occluded, and a VA stenosis was revealed. Occlusion of the PICA was considered to be the primary cause of the dizziness. The patient underwent surgery to decompress the right PICA and VA via a posterior cervical approach. Following surgery, the patient's dizziness disappeared, and the stenotic change at the right VA and PICA improved. The PICA could be a causative artery for BHS when it originates extracranially at the atlas-axis level, and posterior decompression is an effective way to treat it.

Variations and management for patients with craniocervical junction arteriovenous fistulas: Comparison of dural, radicular, and epidural arteriovenous fistulas.

BACKGROUND: Craniocervical junction arteriovenous fistulas (CCJAVFs) are known to be rare, but variations and clinical behaviors remain controversial. METHODS: A total of 11 CCJAVF patients (M: F=9:2, age 54-77 years) were investigated. Based on the radiological and intraoperative findings, they were categorized into three types: dural AVF (DAVF), radicular AVF (RAVF), and epidural AVF (EDAVF). RESULTS: There were four symptomatic patients (subarachnoid hemorrhage in two, myelopathy in one, and tinnitus in one) and seven asymptomatic patients in whom coincidental CCJAVFs were discovered on imaging studies for other vascular diseases (arteriovenous malformation in one, intracranial DAVF in two, ruptured cerebral aneurysm in two, and carotid artery stenosis in two). Of these 11 patients, 2 (18.2%) had multiple CCJAVFs. Of 14 lesions, the diagnoses were DAVF in 5, RAVF in 3, and EDAVF in 6 (C1-C2 level ratio =5:0, 2:1, 3:3). Patients with DAVF/RAVF in four lesions with intradural venous reflux underwent surgery, although an RAVF remained in one lesion after embolization/radiation. Since all six EDAVFs, two DAVFs, and one RAVF had neither feeder aneurysms nor significant symptoms, no treatment was provided; of these nine lesions, one DAVF and one RAVF remained unchanged, whereas six EDAVFs showed spontaneous obliteration within a year. Unfortunately, however, one DAVF bled before elective surgery. CONCLUSION: CCJAVFs have many variations of shunting site, angioarchitecture, and multiplicity, and they were frequently associated with coincidental vascular lesions. For symptomatic DAVF/RAVF lesions with intradural drainage, surgery is preferred, whereas asymptomatic EDAVFs without dangerous drainage may obliterate during their natural course.

Emergent stenting after intravenous thrombolysis for isolated basilar artery dissection in a patient with acute ischemic stroke: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Isolated basilar artery dissection (IBAD) is a rare but important cause of ischemic stroke. Anti-thrombotic therapy is often used to treat IBAD-related ischemic stroke, but selected cases might need more aggressive treatment. There is no previous report of emergent stenting for IBAD-related ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with disturbance of consciousness, right hemiplegia, severe dysarthria, and total gaze paralysis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed no ischemic lesion, but magnetic resonance angiography showed stenosis in the basilar artery. After initiation of intravenous thrombolysis, her neurological symptoms dramatically improved. Five hours later, however, her symptoms deteriorated again. Cerebral angiography showed IBAD. Emergent stenting was successfully performed. At 90 days after stroke onset, she had no significant disability, with a modified Rankin scale score of 1. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent stenting can be an effective treatment for patients with IBAD-related ischemic stroke who are resistant to IV-rtPA.

Trends in Incidence of Intracranial and Spinal Arteriovenous Shunts: Hospital-Based Surveillance in Okayama, Japan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To date, the incidence of intracranial and spinal arteriovenous shunts has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to clarify recent trends in the rates of intracranial and spinal arteriovenous shunts in Japan. METHODS: We conducted multicenter hospital-based surveillance at 8 core hospitals in Okayama Prefecture between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2019. Patients who lived in Okayama and were diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous malformations, dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs), or spinal arteriovenous shunts (SAVSs) were enrolled. The incidence and temporal trends of each disease were calculated. RESULTS: Among a total of 393 cranial and spinal arteriovenous shunts, 201 (51.1%) cases of DAVF, 155 (39.4%) cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformation, and 34 (8.7%) cases of SAVS were identified. The crude incidence rates between 2009 and 2019 were 2.040 per 100 000 person-years for all arteriovenous shunts, 0.805 for cerebral arteriovenous malformation, 1.044 for DAVF, and 0.177 for SAVS. The incidence of all types tended to increase over the decade, with a notable increase in incidence starting in 2012. Even after adjusting for population aging, the incidence of nonaggressive DAVF increased 6.0-fold while that of SAVS increased 4.4-fold from 2010 to 2018. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to previous studies, we found that the incidence of DAVF is higher than that of cerebral arteriovenous malformation. Even after adjusting for population aging, all of the disease types tended to increase in incidence over the last decade, with an especially prominent increase in SAVSs and nonaggressive DAVFs. Various factors including population aging may affect an increase in DAVF and SAVS.

Postoperative recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma is more frequent in patients with blood type A.

OBJECTIVE: Because of an aging society, the incidence of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is increasing. This lesion is treated with simple burr hole irrigation, but one of the major issues is that CSDH frequently recurs. ABO blood type may be associated with a bleeding tendency and inflammation. However, its association with the recurrence of CSDH remains unknown. Therefore, the authors of the present study aimed to retrospectively investigate the association between ABO blood type and CSDH recurrence. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed symptomatic CSDHs in 425 cerebral hemispheres of 376 patients who had undergone surgical treatment with irrigation of the hematoma via burr holes at their institution from January 2011 to September 2019. Among these were 366 CSDHs in 320 patients whose ABO blood type had been determined and who were included in this study. RESULTS: In the study, 307 patients with CSDHs in 350 hemispheres were followed up postoperatively until the disappearance of the CDSH or for at least 3 months. Recurrence of CSDH was observed in 37 patients (10.6%) after surgical treatment. Blood type A was found to be significantly associated with CSDH recurrence compared to non-A blood types: 24 of 153 CDSHs (15.7%) versus 13 of 197 CDSHs (6.6%) (p = 0.008). In the multivariable regression analysis, blood type A, in addition to thrombocytopenia, was a significant independent predictor of the recurrence of CSDH. CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed that blood type A is an independent risk factor for the postoperative recurrence of CSDH and that careful follow-up in these patients may be needed.

Comparison of Single and Dual Monitoring during Carotid Endarterectomy.

We compared the rate of selective shunt and pattern of monitoring change between single and dual monitoring in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). A total of 121 patients underwent 128 consecutive CEA procedures. Excluding five procedures using internal shunts in a premeditated manner, we classified patients according to the monitoring: Group A (n = 72), patients with single somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring; and Group B (n = 51), patients with dual SSEP and motor evoked potential (MEP). Among the 123 CEAs, an internal shunt was inserted in 12 procedures (9.8%) due to significant changes in monitoring (Group A 5.6%, Group B 15.7%, p = 0.07). The rate of shunt use was significantly higher in patients with the absence of contralateral proximal anterior cerebral artery (A1) on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) than in patients with other types of MRA (p <0.001). Significant monitor changes were seen in 16 (12.5%) in both groups. In four of nine patients in Group B, SSEP and MEP changes were synchronized, and in the remaining five patients, a time lag was evident between SSEP and MEP changes. In conclusion, the rate of internal shunt use tended to be more frequent in patients with dual monitoring than in patients with single SSEP monitoring, but the difference was not significant. Contralateral A1 absence may predict the need for a shunt and care should be taken to monitor changes throughout the entire CEA procedure. Use of dual monitoring can capture ischemic changes due to the complementary relationship, and may reduce the rate of false-negative monitor changes during CEA.

Improvement of Hemifacial Spasm after Stent-assisted Coil Embolization for Ipsilateral Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysm.

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the gold standard in the treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS), and endovascular surgery has been described as a treatment only for aneurysm-induced HFS in several previous cases. We describe symptomatic HFS caused by a normal vertebral artery (VA) trunk adjacent to the ipsilateral dissecting VA aneurysm completely cured after stent-assisted coil embolization. A 52-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of gradually worsening left HFS. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebral angiography revealed a dissecting VA aneurysm on the left side. Based on the findings from preoperative MRI, not the aneurysmal dome itself, but the VA trunk just distal to the aneurysmal dome was considered likely to be compressing the root exit zone (REZ) of the facial nerve. Stent-assisted coil embolization was conducted for the VA aneurysm, and the stent was deployed to cover the wide neck of the aneurysm and offending zone of the VA trunk simultaneously. HFS started to show improvement just after the procedure and complete disappearance within 1 year. HFS was completely resolved by stenting of the offending artery. Stents may show efficacy for "intra-arterial decompression" by reducing pulsatility against the REZ of the facial nerve due to the thickness and rigidity of the stent metal and delayed endothelialization.

Effectiveness of Transvenous Aspiration Thrombectomy for Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A Report of Three Cases.

Objective: We report three patients successfully treated by emergent transvenous thrombectomy for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Case Presentation: (Case 1) A 77-year-old man presented with vomiting, dizziness, and headache. CT revealed local subarachnoid hemorrhage (l-SAH), and angiography confirmed occlusion of the right transverse sigmoid sinus and superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Emergent transvenous aspiration thrombectomy using a Penumbra catheter (PC) resulted in effective reperfusion. (Case 2) A 60-year-old man developed disorientation, sensory aphasia, and right hemiparesis. MRI demonstrated extensive cerebral edema caused by venous congestion in both thalami, and angiography revealed poor opacification of the SSS, straight sinus, and bilateral transverse sinuses. Venous sinus flow was restored by catheter aspiration using a PC and topical infusion of urokinase (UK). (Case 3) A 19-year-old man developed a headache, numbness of the right upper limb, motor paralysis, and convulsions. CT revealed l-SAH and dense clot sign in the SSS. The SSS was poorly delineated on angiography. Thrombus aspiration using a PC and topical UK administration achieved partial recanalization. Conclusion: Transvenous aspiration thrombectomy using large lumen catheters for patients with CVST is effective and safe. In particular, this method may be a better option than anti-coagulation therapy alone for patients presenting with a severe neurological condition or intracranial hemorrhage.

Combination Therapy Using Prothrombin Complex Concentrate and Vitamin K in Anticoagulated Patients with Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage Prevents Progressive Hemorrhagic Injury: A Historically Controlled Study.

Warfarin remains crucially involved in the treatment of patients at thrombotic or thromboembolic risk. However, warfarin increases the mortality rate among patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (TICH) through progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI). Therefore, a rapid anticoagulation reversal could be required in patients with TICH to prevent PHI. Differences in the warfarin reversal effect between combination therapy of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) with vitamin K (VK) and VK monotherapy remain unclear. However, studies have reported that PCC has greater effectiveness and safety for warfarin reversal compared with fresh frozen plasma (FFP). This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the warfarin reversal effects of combination therapy of PCC with VK and VK monotherapy on TICH. We compared the clinical outcomes between the periods before and after the PCC introduction in our hospital. There were 13 and 7 patients who received VK monotherapy and PCC with VK, respectively. PHI predictors were evaluated using univariate regression analyses. Warfarin reversal using PCC had a significant negative association with PHI (odds ratio: 0.03, 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.41, P = 0.004). None of the patients presented with thrombotic complications. Warfarin reversal through a combination of PCC with VK could be more effective for inhibiting post-trauma PHI compared with VK monotherapy. This could be attributed to a rapid and stable warfarin reversal. PCC should be administered to patients with TICH taking warfarin for PHI prevention.

Surgical Technique for Carotid Endarterectomy: Current Methods and Problems.

Over the last 60 years, many reports have investigated carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and techniques have thus changed and improved. In this paper, we review the recent literature regarding operational maneuvers for CEA and discuss future problems for CEA. Longitudinal skin incision is common, but the transverse incision has been reported to offer minimal invasiveness and better cosmetic effects for CEA. Most surgeons currently use microscopy for dissection of the artery and plaque. Although no monitoring technique during CEA has been proven superior, multiple monitors offer better sensitivity for predicting postoperative neurological deficit. To date, data are lacking regarding whether routine shunt or selective shunt is better. Individual surgeons thus need to select the method with which they are more comfortable. Many surgical techniques have been reported to obtain distal control of the internal carotid artery in patients with high cervical carotid bifurcation or high plaque, and minimally invasive techniques should be considered. Multiple studies have shown that patch angioplasty reduces the risks of stroke and restenosis compared with primary closure, but few surgeons in Japan have been performing patch angioplasty. Most surgeons thus experience only a small volume of CEAs in Japan, so training programs and development of in vivo training models are important.

Diagnosis and Operative Management of Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients with Twisted Carotid Bifurcation.

Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an established procedure, technical modifications are required when anatomical features are unusual. The present study aimed to determine the characteristics of diagnostic features, surgical management, and outcomes of patients with a twisted carotid bifurcation (TCB). We assessed 108 consecutive patients by cervical carotid echography (CCE) and black-blood magnetic resonance imaging (BB-MRI) before they underwent 115 CEA procedures. We classified carotid bifurcation (CB) anatomy based on anteroposterior findings of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) determined by cerebral or three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography as follows. The ICA and ECA ran laterally and medially, respectively, in Type 1, overlapped in Type 2, and the ICA and ECA ran medially and laterally, respectively, in Type 3. We also classified the patients according to whether or not they had a TCB and compared their diagnostic findings, clinical characteristics, and surgical outcomes. The numbers of patients with Types 1, 2, and 3 were 74 (64.4%), 32 (27.8%), and 9 (7.8%), respectively, and 13 (11.3%) with a TCB included four patients with Type 2 and all nine patients with Type 3. The appearance of Type 3 differed from that of the other two types on CCE and BB-MR images. After correcting the anatomical location of a TCB, surgical duration and adverse event rates did not significantly differ between patients with and without a TCB. Patients with a TCB could safely undergo CEA after correcting the ICA to the normal position.

Prestroke Conditions of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients are Associated with Functional Outcome after Mechanical Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mechanical thrombectomy was demonstrated to be useful for acute ischemic stroke. However, whether it is beneficial for patients with poor prestroke conditions, such as older adults and those with low activity of daily living, is unclear. METHODS: A total of 134 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy in our hospital between April 2015 and January 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale score of 0-2 at 90 days after stroke onset. Several factors were analyzed to assess their effects on clinical outcomes. RESULTS: At 90 days after stroke onset, 37.3% (50 of 134) of patients had a good outcome. Prestroke modified Rankin scale score was independently associated with a good outcome (odds ratio .39, 95% confidence interval .22-.67, P < .001). In patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score 0-1, 55.4% (46 of 83) had a good outcome, and no significant difference in prognosis was found between patients aged less than 80 years and those aged greater than or equal to 80 years (P = .64). More than half the patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score greater than or equal to 2 were graded as modified Rankin scale score 5-6 at 90 days regardless of age, which was significantly higher than those with prestroke modified Rankin scale score 0-1 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score 0-1 are expected to have a good prognosis after mechanical thrombectomy even if aged greater than or equal to 80 years. Patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score greater than or equal to 2 might have an extremely poor prognosis, and we should be more careful in selecting candidates for mechanical thrombectomy.

Increased plasma plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex levels correlate with postoperative rebleeding after endoscopic surgery for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative rebleeding (PR) is one of the most severe complications of endoscopic surgery, often performed to remove spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). However, the risk factors for PR remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study retrospectively investigated whether increased preoperative plasma plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) levels, indicating activation of fibrinolysis, are associated with PR. METHODS: A total of 101 patients underwent endoscopic surgery to evacuate sICH at our institution from January 2010 to June 2019, and 79 patients who underwent examinations of plasma PIC levels at admission with available radiographical data were included. Correlations between PR and increased plasma PIC levels were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: PR occurred in eight patients (10.1%), and high PIC levels (≥ 4 or 6 µg/ml) were significantly associated with PR. The sensitivities employing high PIC levels of ≥ 4 µg/ml and ≥ 6 µg/ml were both 0.63, and the specificities using the same PIC levels were 0.86 and 0.92, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed that high plasma PIC levels of ≥ 4 µg/ml (odds ratio (OR), 12.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.65-98.77; p = 0.02) or ≥ 6 µg/ml (OR, 18.33; 95% CI, 2.32-144.82; p = 0.006) were independent predictors of PR. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that increased plasma PIC levels were associated with PR following the endoscopic evacuation of sICHs, indicating that increased plasma PIC levels could be potentially used to predict PR. Further studies are needed to establish new surgical strategies and adjuvant treatments to improve surgical outcomes in patients with sICH prone to PR.