Effect of endovascular treatment on headache in elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The incidence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is increasing in the elderly population as life expectancy increases, and patients often present with headache. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of endovascular treatment on headache and identify factors associated with headache outcome in elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) being treated for unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Headache assessment was performed by a quantitative 11-point headache scale in all patients before and after endovascular treatment. Factors associated with headache outcome were investigated by univariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients (mean age, 70.0 years; age range, 65-80 years; 41 women) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 52 patients (72.2%) who presented with preoperative headache (headache score ≥ 1). Among them, 40 (76.9%) reported that headache score had an improvement according to their self-reported quantitative headache score after endovascular treatment. The average headache score was 5.63 preoperatively vs 2.50 postoperatively (P = .000). Twenty patients (27.8%) had no headache before treatment (headache score = 0), of whom 2 (10.0%) reported new onset of headache postoperatively. Only a preoperative headache score was associated with treatment outcome of headache, and a higher headache score predicted a lack of headache relief after endovascular treatment (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms resulted in relief of headache in most of the elderly patients. Preoperative headache score was the only statistically significant predictor of headache outcome.

Onyx 18 embolisation of dural arteriovenous fistula via arterial and venous pathways: preliminary experience and evaluation of the short-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This paper mainly focuses on our preliminary experience and short-term outcome evaluation of embolisation of non-cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas (ncsDAVFs) and cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (csDAVFs) using Onyx 18 (ev3, Plymouth, MN), and in combination with coils, via arterial and venous approaches, respectively. METHODS: Between August 2008 and March 2010, 21 DAVFs (11 ncsDAVFs and 10 csDAVFs; age range: 28-68 years; 12 females and 9 males) were undertaken. Borden classification showed Type III in 1 and Type II in 10 ncsDAVFs, and Type II in 4 and Type I in 6 csDAVFs. Onyx 18 was used in 11 ncsDAVFs (10 via single feeder and 1 via 2 feeders). Onyx 18 or in combination with coils was used in 10 csDAVFs (9 via the inferior petrosal sinus and 1 via the superior ophthalmic vein). RESULTS: Total occlusion in immediate angiography was achieved in 18 cases (85.7%; 10 ncsDAVFs and 8 csDAVFs), and near-total occlusion in 1 ncsDAVF and 2 csDAVFs. Onyx 18 was migrated into normal vasculature in two ncsDAVFs without any sequelae. One csDAVF had VI cranial nerve palsy post-operatively, which completely recovered 2 weeks post-embolisation. Follow-up angiography at 3-12 months showed complete occlusion in 20 cases (95.2%; 10 ncsDAVFs and 10 csDAVFs). One ncsDAVF (4.8%) recurred after 3 months and was successfully re-embolised. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results achieved after embolising 11 ncsDAVFs and 10 csDAVFs using Onyx 18 and in combination with coils via arterial and venous pathways, respectively, appeared to be safe, feasible and effective, as 95.2% of cases were totally occluded without any clinical sequelae.

Efficacy of endovascular therapy for direct occlusion of intracranial aneurysms.

INTRODUCTION: Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular therapy using detachable coils and balloons for the direct occlusion of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 563 patients undergoing digital subtraction angiography from January 2007 to July 2009. Two hundred and fifty patients with 323 embolized intracranial aneurysms were studied. RESULTS: Among 250 patients, 66 % were female and 34 % male, the age ranging from 19 - 83 years (mean 50.66 ± 12.92). One hundred and seventy-seven had a single aneurysm while 73 showed multiple aneurysms. Seventeen (9.6 %) had giant aneurysms. Three hundred and eleven aneurysms were treated using detachable coils, and 12 giant aneurysms were embolized by detachable balloons for the parent vessel occlusion. Of 323 aneurysms treated via the endovascular approach, total occlusion was seen in 93 % of the aneurysms, near total occlusion in 5.2 % and incomplete embolization in 1.5 %. Among patients presenting with sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, 62 improved to the Glasgow outcome score (GOS) of 5, 93 improved to GOS 4, 14 improved to GOS 3, 10 improved to GOS 2 at the time of discharge and 5 patients died. Angiographic follow-up was scheduled between 6 - 12 months post-embolization. The aneurysm recurred in 1.2 % and were re-embolized using additional coils. Statistically, Hunt and Hess Grade and GOS indicated clinical significance (P < 0.05). The patients, gender, clinical presentation and aneurysmal location did not show statistical significance (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hunt and Hess VI and V are considered as poor clinical gradings in aneurysmal SAH. However, endovascular treatment has been established as an effective method to obliterate intracranial aneurysms allowing subsequent decrease in mortality and morbidity.

Combined neuroform intracranial stent and bioactive matrix detachable coil for embolization of a broad-necked persistent primitive trigeminal artery aneurysm. A case report.

SUMMARY: We report a patient with a wide-necked aneurysm arising at the bifurcation of the right internal carotid artery and the persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) treated successfully by Matrix detachable coil occlusion and assisted by a Neuroform intracranial stent. First, a Neuroform self-expanding intracranial stent was delivered via a 5-F Guider Softtip XP and placed as desired, then the aneurysm dome was embolized with two Matrix detachable coils through the interstices of the stent. The aneurysm was 80% occluded angiographically and the parent artery was patent. DSA imaging six months after the procedure showed the aneurysm to be obliterated at angiography and the neck tissue thickness of the aneurysm to be increased, but the parent artery diameter was not impacted. We describe the case in detail and discuss our preliminary experience of using the Neuroform stent and Matrix detachable coils for the treatment of a PPTA wide-necked aneurysm.

Complication analysis of 469 brain arteriovenous malformations treated with N-butyl cyanoacrylate.

SUMMARY: We independently assessed the frequency, severity and determinants of neurological deficits after endovascular embolization with NBCA of brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) to have a better basis for making treatment decisions. All the charts of 469 BAVMs patients who underwent embolization with NBCA were reviewed. We analyzed the complications and their relation to angiographic features. The 469 patients were treated with 1108 endovascular procedures. Each met one to eight times, average 2.3 times. Eleven patients showed treatment-related complications, including four haemorrhagic and seven ischemic complications. Of these 11 cases, two died, two had persistent disabling deficits, and another seven suffered transient neurological deficits. Our finding suggests a low rate of disabling treatment complications for embolization of brain AVMs with NBCA in this center. The management of AVM patients who have high risk of embolization therapy should be treated by special strategy.