Enterprise Treatment for Recurrent Basilar Tip Aneurysm after PulseRider-assisted Coil Embolization: A Case Report.

PulseRider (Cerenovus, Irvine, CA, USA) is a relatively novel device used for the treatment of wide-neck aneurysms with a coil-assisted effect. However, treatment options for recurrent aneurysms after PulseRider-assisted coil embolization remain controversial. Here we report a case of recurrent basilar tip aneurysm (BTA) treated with Enterprise 2 after PulseRider-assisted coil embolization. A woman in her 70s underwent coil embolization for a subarachnoid hemorrhage with ruptured BTA 16 years ago. Recurrence was detected at 6-year follow-up, and an additional coil embolization was performed. Nevertheless, gradual recurrence still occurred, and PulseRider-assisted coil embolization was performed without any complications 9 years after the second treatment. However, recurrence was detected once more at 6-month follow-up. Thus, stent-assisted coil embolization using Enterprise 2 (Cerenovus) through PulseRider was selected for angular remodeling. Enterprise 2 was deployed between the right P2 segment of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and basilar artery (BA) after an effective coil embolization, which achieved effective angular remodeling between the right PCA and BA. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and no recanalization was detected after half a year. Although PulseRider is effective for wide-neck aneurysm treatment, recurrence remains a possibility. Additional treatment using Enterprise 2 is safe and effective with the expectation of angular remodeling.

Retrospective comparison of clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients with and without coagulopathy: a single center's experience.

PURPOSE: To compare the complication rate and clinical outcomes for percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in patients with or without coagulopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical chart of patients who underwent ultrasound-guided PC with a 8.5-F drainage tube for acute cholecystitis between November 2003 and March 2017. We divided the patients into two groups: patients with coagulopathy (international normalized ratio > 1.5 or platelet count < 50 × 109/L or with a history of anticoagulant medication in preceding 5 days) and patients without coagulopathy. Duration of drainage, duration of hospital stay, 30-day mortality and complication rates were compared between these two groups. Student's t test, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for bivariate analyses. Age, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) and sepsis-adjusted complication rates were also compared. RESULTS: In total, 141 patients had PC (mean age was 73.3 years [SD 13.3]; range 33-96 years; 94 men and 47 women). Fifty-two patients (36.9%) had coagulopathy and 89 patients (63.1%) were without any history of coagulopathy. Hemorrhagic complication rate was 3.5% (5 out of 141 patients, including 4 with coagulopathy and 1 without). One patient with coagulopathy died due to the hemorrhage. Duration of drainage was longer in patients with coagulopathy than patients without coagulopathy (20.0 days vs. 14.8 days; P = 0.033). No significant difference was observed with regard to duration of hospital stay (32.3 days vs. 25.6 days; P = 0.103) and 30-day mortality (7.7% vs. 1.1%; P = 0.062). The overall complication rate did not significantly differ (9.6% and 11.2%; P = 0.763), nor did age, ACCI or sepsis-adjusted complications. CONCLUSION: Clinical outcomes and complications rates after PC did not statistically differ between patients with and without coagulopathy, but there was a tendency of higher risk of hemorrhage in coagulopathy patients. Therefore, the indication of this procedure should be carefully determined.

Unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy for akinetic-rigid Parkinson's disease: a prospective open-label study.

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgical ablation is an effective treatment for medically refractory motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). A limited number of studies have reported the effect of ablation of the pallidothalamic tract for PD. In this study, the authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy for akinetic-rigid (AR)-PD. METHODS: Fourteen AR-PD patients, who were enrolled in this prospective open-label study, underwent unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy. The Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III and Part IV (dyskinesia and dystonia) scores and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients enrolled in the study, 4 were lost to follow-up and 10 were analyzed. The total MDS-UPDRS Part III score significantly improved from 45 ± 4.6 at baseline to 32.9 ± 4.8 at 12 months postoperatively (p = 0.005). Contralateral side rigidity and bradykinesia significantly improved from 4.4 ± 0.5 and 10.4 ± 1.5 at baseline to 1.7 ± 0.4 (p = 0.005) and 5.2 ± 1.4 (p = 0.011) at 12 months, respectively. While posture significantly improved with a 20% reduction in scores (p = 0.038), no significant improvement was found in gait (p = 0.066). Dyskinesia and dystonia were improved with a 79.2% (p = 0.0012) and 91.7% (p = 0.041) reduction in scores, respectively. No significant change was found in the LEDD. Hypophonia was noted in 2 patients, eyelid apraxia was noted in 1 patient, and a reduced response to levodopa, which resulted in an increase in the daily dose of levodopa, was noted in 3 patients. No serious permanent neurological deficits were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy improved contralateral side rigidity and bradykinesia, dyskinesia, and dystonia in patients with AR-PD. Clinical trial registration no.: UMIN000031138 (umin.ac.jp).

Long-Term Successful Outcome of Dystonic Head Tremor after Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation of the Ventral Intermediate and Ventro-Oral Internus Nuclei: A Case Report and Literature Review of Dystonic Head Tremor.

Head tremor in patients with dystonia is referred to as dystonic tremor. During surgical treatment, numerous targets may be selected, including the internal segment of the globus pallidus and the ventral intermediate (Vim) nucleus; however, there is no consensus concerning the most effective treatment target. We report herein a case of dystonic head tremor in which improvement persisted for 5 years after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the bilateral thalamic Vim and ventro-oral internus (Voi) nuclei. The patient, a 67-year-old woman, has a horizontal head tremor associated with cervical dystonia that had been resistant to drug treatment over 3 years. Immediately following surgery, dystonia and tremor symptoms had completely improved. Voice volume declined and dysarthria occurred but improved upon adjusting the stimulation conditions. Over 5 years, both head tremor and cervical dystonia have been completely controlled, and no other obvious complications have been observed. As the Voi nucleus receives pallidothalamic projections involved in dystonia and the Vim nucleus receives cerebellothalamic projections involved in tremors, stimulating these 2 nuclei with the same electrode appears reasonable in the treatment of dystonic tremor. This case suggests that Vim-Voi DBS may be effective for treating dystonic head tremor.

Pallidothalamic Tractotomy (Forel's Field H1-tomy) for Dystonia: Preliminary Results.

OBJECTIVES: The pallidothalamic tract connects the globus pallidus internus with the ventroanterior and ventrolateral parts of the thalamus. Lesioning or stimulation of the pallidothalamic tract has ameliorating effects on dyskinesia and dystonia in patients with Parkinson disease. However, the effect of the procedure on dystonia due to other etiologies has not been reported. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with dystonia who underwent unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy between July 2017 and October 2018 at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital. The Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale-Movement Scale was used to evaluate the severity of dystonia at three time points (before surgery, 3 months postoperatively, and the last available follow-up). Adverse events were also evaluated. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy, including 5 with generalized dystonia, 4 with segmental dystonia, and 2 with focal (cervical) dystonia. All patients had undergone unilateral pallidotomy before contralateral pallidothalamic tractotomy. The mean interval between the previous surgery (pallidotomy) and pallidothalamic tractotomy was 9.5 ± 3.1 months. The mean follow-up period was 11.5 ± 4.2 months. The Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale-Movement Scale scores at 3 months after pallidothalamic tractotomy (5.8 ± 8.4) and at the last available follow-up (5.6 ± 8.3, P < 0.001) were significantly improved compared with that before pallidothalamic tractotomy (21.8 ± 16.3). The most common adverse event was reduced voice volume (6 patients), which was mild and did not interfere with the patient's daily activities. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that pallidothalamic tractotomy can be an alternative treatment target for dystonia. A larger and longer prospective study is needed to elucidate the safety and efficacy of pallidothalamic tractotomy for dystonia.