Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm with a Peculiar Angiographic Appearance: A Case Study.

We describe a case of pulsatile anterior communicating artery aneurysm (A-com AN) with a peculiar angiographic appearance. An 81-year-old man was referred to the department of neurosurgery for a large A-com AN artery aneurysm, which was detected incidentally. The patient hoped not to be treated but to be followed up. After 4 months, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of a cerebral edema and hematoma around the aneurysm, and partial thrombus in the upper wall of the aneurysm was suspected. Based on these findings, the patient underwent an immediate coil embolization a day after admission. However, the portion of the neck remnant increased in size after the first procedure. Therefore, 8 months after the initial procedure, he was treated with stent coil embolization. Contrary to the first procedure, angiographic evaluation revealed an active pulsating aneurysm. Moreover, MRI revealed the presence of a partial thrombus in the upper neck segment of the aneurysm, with an intensity that changed over time. The patient underwent cautious treatment and was discharged without any symptoms. This is the first case study to reveal an A-com AN with active pulsation and the relationship between the pulsatile portion of the aneurysm and thrombosed portion by MRI.

Analysis of relationship between superior hypophyseal artery visualization and preservation and postoperative visual field deficit in paraclinoid aneurysm.

Direct surgery for paraclinoid aneurysms can result in visual field deficit owing to compromised blood flow to the superior hypophyseal artery (SHA). However, it is rarely visualized in angiography, and discussions regarding its preservation in the field of neuro-endovascular treatment are limited. Biplane angiographic suite with high spatial resolution has been used at our institution since 2014. Since then, there were a few cases where SHAs could be visualized via digital subtraction angiography. We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between the presences and abscence of SHAs in paraclinoid aneurysms and post-procedural visual field deficit. Sixty-three paraclinoid aneuryms treated by neuro-endovascular procedure in 2014-2018 at our neurosurgery department were analyzed. Pre- and post-procedural multiplanar reconstruction imagings of three-dimensional rotation angiography were analyzed to retrospectively investigate the SHAs. SHAs were visualized in 26 patients (41%) and the median number of pre-procedurally visualized SHAs was 0 (interquartile range 0-1). Their origins were the aneurysmal necks in 11 patients (42%). In two of the 11 cases, they were noticed before coil embolization and were able to be preserved after the procedure. In the remaining nine cases, they were not pre-procedurally detected, and coiling was normally conducted. Visual field deficit occurred in one of these nine cases, but symptoms were transient, and the patient fully recovered. Because SHAs could be visualized in >40% cases and no visual field defects occurred in cases that SHAs could be identified and preserved preoperatively, we recommend their preservation during coil embolization for paraclinoid aneurysms.

A case of internal trapping to a thrombosed giant rapidly growing aneurysm at the posterior cerebral artery.

We describe a case of internal trapping including the vasa vasorum for a thrombosed giant rapidly growing posterior cerebral artery aneurysm and performing a detailed analysis. A 48-year-old woman was followed up in our hospital for a thrombosed large posterior cerebral artery aneurysm located in the P2 segment. She initially presented after experiencing a sudden headache on two occasions. Head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging indicated a larger aneurysm than before. Digital subtraction angiography with balloon occlusion test was assessed, and internal trapping was sequentially conducted. We detected that the vasa vasorum originated from the posterior temporal artery. Therefore, we embolized the posterior temporal artery including the vasa vasorum using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and Lipiodol. Next, the anterior temporal artery was embolized with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and Lipiodol, posterior temporal artery P3 segment and the aneurysm and finally the proximal P2 segment were embolized with coils. Final vertebral and internal carotid angiography showed complete obliteration of the aneurysm. On the day after the procedure her paresis worsened and she developed left upper quadrantanopia, however was finally discharged with no hemiparesis. We reported a case of a rapidly growing thrombosed giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysm treated by parent artery occlusion including the vasa vasorum with detailed image analysis.

Cardiac Arrest Induced by Carotid Sinus Reflex Activation During Flow-Diverter Stent Deployment.

BACKGROUND: A 60-year-old female with multiple carotid aneurysms underwent endovascular treatment with a Pipeline Flex embolization device (PED) under local anesthesia via femoral puncture. CASE DESCRIPTION: Cardiac arrest occurred when the delivery systems were pushed to promote adequate opening and apposition of the PED against the vessel wall and was recovered to sinus rhythm in approximately 30 seconds by pulling down the microcatheter. The carotid sinus reflex was suspected as the cause of this temporary asystole. Delivery of the PED was accompanied by application of forward pressure on the delivery system. This resulted in buckling of the delivery systems in the neck and likely excessive pressure on the carotid sinus. The procedure was continued and successfully completed with care not to excessively push the system and with the additional use of atropine. CONCLUSIONS: Although it was a rare complication, the phenomenon and its mechanisms were known in the carotid artery stenting procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of cardiac arrest induced by a carotid sinus reflex during PED deployment. It is important for an operator of PED deployment to recognize its possibility. Vital signs should be closely checked during PED deployment, particularly while pushing the catheter.

[A Case of Carotid Free-Floating Thrombus Treated by Carotid Ultrasonography-Guided Endovascular Approach].

We experienced a case of carotid free-floating thrombus treated by carotid ultrasonography-guided endovascular approach. A 63-year-old man was brought to our hospital with the chief complaint of sudden onset left hemiplegia. MRI revealed acute infarction of the right MCA territory due to the right M1 occlusion. Carotid ultrasonography showed a pedunculated, polypoid mobile plaque floating with the cardiac beat. We attempted ultrasonography-guided endovascular treatment. Under proximal balloon protection, the floating plaque was successfully aspirated into the Penumbra aspiration catheter. Carotid stent was also placed to stabilize the residual pedicle of the plaque. Aspirated plaque was identified as fresh thrombus by pathological examination. Carotid ultrasonography-guided endovascular approach was effective for getting the picture of real-time dynamics of the carotid FFT.

Intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone ameliorates periapical lesions in mice.

INTRODUCTION: Intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) promotes oral osseous wound healing and protects against ligature-induced alveolar bone loss. However, its therapeutic value on periapical periodontitis is unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of intermittent PTH administration on the progression of periapical periodontitis. METHODS: Seven lymphotoxin alpha-deficient mice received pulp exposures of mandibular first and second molars. Exposed pulp in the right mandible was covered with plaque-contaminated fibrin, whereas exposed pulp in the left mandible was left open. After 4 weeks, the periapical tissues were examined to determine the effect of plaque-contaminated fibrin to induce periapical lesions. Fourteen mice received pulp exposure covered with plaque-contaminated fibrin. PTH (40 µg/kg/d) was administered intermittently to half of the mice for 3 weeks beginning 1 week after pulp exposure. The remaining half received saline injections as the vehicle control. At sacrifice, mandibles and tibiae were harvested and processed for histologic examination. Evaluation of neutrophils and blood vessels was performed after staining with immunofluorescence, and periradicular bone was histomorphometrically analyzed. RESULTS: The exposed pulp covered with plaque-contaminated fibrin resulted in significantly larger periapical lesions compared with the control. Intermittent PTH administration reduced the size of periapical lesions significantly. Significantly less neutrophil infiltration around the root apex was found in PTH-treated animals compared with the control. CONCLUSIONS: PTH treatment suppressed periapical inflammation by reducing neutrophil infiltration and protected against tissue destruction by periapical periodontitis.