Endovascular Treatment of Proximal Aortic Arch Lesions through a Retrograde Approach.

Tandem atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid bifurcation and the ipsilateral proximal common carotid artery (CCA) or innominate arteries (IA) can be challenging to treat. A surgical approach may treat the lesion at the carotid bifurcation, but proximal CCA or IA lesions require a major surgical exposure. An endovascular approach is challenging as well since anatomic variations, such as a type III aortic arch, can render navigation very difficult. We report our experience in the hybrid surgical and endovascular treatment of complex proximal CCA and IA lesions. Eleven patients who underwent hybrid procedures with surgical exposure (with or without endarterectomy) of the carotid artery and retrograde endovascular intervention of a proximal lesion were included in the study. The mean percentage of stenosis was 81%. Seven patients underwent a carotid endarterectomy (CEA), and 4 patients underwent only a surgical cutdown for retrograde endovascular access of the IA or left CCA. All procedures were technically successful. Eight patients had no symptoms within 30 days of the procedure. The hybrid retrograde endovascular approach through carotid exposure with or without CEA appears to be effective and safe in selected patients who have a high-risk complex anatomy of tandem lesions.

Radioprotective lightweight caps in the interventional cardiology setting: a randomised controlled trial (PROTECT).

AIMS: The aim of this study was to test the radioprotection efficacy and comfort of newer bilayer barium sulphate-bismuth oxide composite (XPF) caps in an interventional cardiology setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: Operators were randomly assigned to wear standard fabric (n=59), 0.3 mm (n=74), or 0.5 mm (n=64) lead-equivalent XPF caps. Radiation doses were measured by using dosimeters placed outside and underneath the caps. Wearing comfort was assessed at the end of each measurement on a visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-100, with 100 indicating optimal comfort). Procedural data did not differ between the XPF and standard groups. Mean standard, XPF 0.3 mm, and XPF 0.5 mm cap weights were 12.5 g, 118.4 g, and 123.7 g, respectively. VAS comfort ratings of the standard and XPF caps did not differ significantly (p=0.272). The mean radiation protection was 12.0%, 95% CI: 4.9-19.1% (standard caps, n=35), 91.5%, 95% CI: 87.4-95.6% (XPF 0.3 mm caps, n=45) and 97.1%, 95% CI: 92.5-100% (XPF 0.5 mm caps, n=44) (p≤0.001 for all group comparisons). Using the XPF caps, a cumulative total radiation dose reduction by almost factor 10 was evident (272 procedures, 22,310 µSv outside the XPF caps, 2,770 µSv inside the caps). CONCLUSIONS: Lightweight XPF caps show comparable comfort to standard fabric caps, but provide substantial radiation protection during fluoroscopy-guided cardiac interventions.

Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Scale evaluation of multimodal computed tomography in predicting clinical outcomes of stroke patients treated with aspiration thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patient selection is crucial in the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients. Baseline computed tomographic (CT) images, evaluated with the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Scale (ASPECTS), are considered significant predictors of outcome. In this study, we evaluated CT images and perfusion parameters, analyzed with ASPECTS, as final outcome predictors after endovascular stroke treatment. METHODS: We analyzed a cohort of patients with acute ischemic stroke and endovascular treatment. Patients with an occlusion of the M1 segment and multimodal CT imaging were included. CT perfusion data were reconstructed using commercial software. Two experienced neuroradiologists separately reviewed and scored CT and CT perfusion images with the ASPECTS score. Parameters were compared between patients with poor and with favorable follow-up outcome. Significantly different variables were further analyzed by forward stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were included in our study. Baseline characteristics did not differ between patients with favorable and poor outcomes. No significant difference in recanalization status, the various times, or CT ASPECTS was demonstrated between these 2 groups. Significant differences were demonstrated for age (P=0.0049), cerebral blood volume ASPECTS (P=0.0007), and between cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow ASPECTS (P=0.0045). Cerebral blood volume ASPECTS>7 demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity for favorable outcome with 84% and 79%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CT perfusion parameters, evaluated with ASPECTS, are optimal predictors of outcome and are more sensitive and specific than CT ASPECTS in the prediction of favorable outcome. Use of these parameters in treatment decisions could reduce futile recanalizations.

Techniques and results--penumbra aspiration catheter.

The Penumbra System is an endovascular mechanical thrombectomy device that uses continuous aspiration to perform recanalization of occluded intracranial vessels. The objective of this article was to provide a comprehensive overview of the data on technical and functional outcome so far published for aspiration thrombectomy and resume techniques that can be used to optimize functionality of the Penumbra System. We focus on existing clinical data as well as our institutional experience and techniques.