Multiple Telescoping Flow Diverter Technique in Endovascular Treatment of a Giant Petrous and Cavernous Carotid Aneurysm.

Using flow diverters (FDs) to treat carotid cavernous aneurysms has achieved favorable clinical and radiologic outcomes. However, the treatment of some giant carotid cavernous aneurysms with FDs remains technically challenging. We report the case of a 24-year-old male who presented with headaches and left facial numbness. Magnetic resonance images and angiography revealed a left giant thrombosed dissecting carotid aneurysm with involvement of the petrous and cavernous segments of the carotid artery. Because this giant aneurysm involved a long segment of the parent artery, the multiple telescoping FD technique was used to ensure adequate neck coverage and enhance the flow-diverting effect for endoluminal reconstruction. A new type of FD, the Lattice flow diversion device (AccuMedical, Beijing, China), was used in this case. Five Lattice FDs were successfully deployed in a telescopic fashion to completely cover the aneurysmal segment from the proximal to distal healthy segment. The patient recovered from the procedure without any complications, and his symptoms had completely resolved at the 3-month follow-up. The angiogram taken at 6 months showed complete remodeling of the internal carotid artery with no aneurysmal opacification. This case highlights the effectiveness of the multiple telescoping FD technique in treatment of long-segment giant petrous and cavernous carotid aneurysms. The technical nuances of the procedure and potential advantages of the Lattice FD are illustrated in this video atlas. Informed patient consent for the procedure and for publication was obtained.

Carotid cavernous fistula secondary to ruptured carotid cavernous aneurysm causing orbital compartment syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report the rare presentation of orbital compartment syndrome secondary to formation of carotid cavernous fistula in the absence of trauma or surgery and demonstrate the role of emergent canthotomy/cantholysis as a vision saving procedure. OBSERVATIONS: A 28-year-old African American female with obesity and migraines presented to the emergency department (ED) with the worst headache of her life after a severe episode of vomiting and dry heaving. Initial CT scan was negative for subarachnoid hemorrhage and patient was discharged. She re-presented to ED several days later with worsening proptosis and left eyelid edema and was discharged on oral antibiotics for presumed preseptal cellulitis after repeat CT scan. When seen by Ophthalmology in clinic, she was noted to have decreased vision, proptosis, decreased color perception, and double vision. She was noted to have orbital compartment syndrome requiring emergent canthotomy/cantholysis in the minor OR. She was sent back to ED for work-up, ultimately revealing a carotid cavernous fistula secondary to rupture of a carotid cavernous aneurysm. She was treated with several coil embolization procedures and ultimately her visual acuity rebounded to 20/20. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Orbital compartment syndrome may be a rare presentation of carotid cavernous fistula secondary to ruptured carotid cavernous aneurysm in the absence of trauma or surgery. Our case demonstrates the importance of properly assessing the cause of a red, edematous, proptosed eye in clinical setting and initiating an appropriate workup and treatment plan without delay.

Pipeline embolization device implantation in large carotid cavernous aneurysm associated with situs inversus totalis.

Situs anomalies are a heterogenous class of inborn visceral and vascular abnormalities with a broad range of radiographic characteristics. Situs inversus totalis is characterized by mirror image location of the heart and viscera relative to situs solitus (normal position). Few aberrations involving the neuraxis, and rarely intracranial aneurysms, have been reported in association with situs inversus totalis. We describe the radiological findings and endovascular management of one of the first of its kind: the association of bilateral carotid cavernous aneurysms (one large and the other small-sized) with situs inversus totalis.

Usefulness of the Pipeline Embolic Device for Large and Giant Carotid Cavernous Aneurysms.

PURPOSE: Conventional coil embolization for large carotid cavernous aneurysms (CCAs) has limited utility due to its inability to prevent recurrences and reduce mass effect. Trapping of the parent artery may have a risk of ischemic complications due to intracranial perfusion disorders. We successfully treated 24 patients with large CCAs using a flow diverter (Pipeline™ embolic device: PED), and this report discusses the safety and efficacy of this method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty four patients (23 females, mean age 71.5 years old) with large CCAs, including 6 giant CCAs, were treated with a PED over three years. Under sufficient dual anti-platelet management, the PED was deployed over the orifice of the aneurysm. Two patients required multiple telescoping stents. Clinical and radiological states were checked with MRI at 1, 3 and 6 months post-surgically. Angiographic follow-up was performed at 6 months. RESULTS: In all patients, PED was appropriately deployed. Stagnation of contrast with eclipse signs was observed post-angiogram in 21 cases. One patient requiring 5 telescoping stents experienced temporary ischemic symptoms. Fourteen patients experienced improvement of ocular motor impairment deficiency, including 6 patients who recovered. Angiograms at 6 months follow-up showed complete occlusion in 63% (12/19) of patients, and MRI showed reduction of aneurysm volume in 89% (17/19) of patients. CONCLUSION: Flow diverters for large CCAs showed promising clinical and radiological efficacy. They can shrink the aneurysm and improve symptoms without sacrificing the parent artery. It will be necessary to summarize the cases and to verify the long-term results.

Innovations in Endovascular Treatment Strategies for Large Carotid Cavernous Aneurysms-The Safety and Efficacy of a Flow Diverter.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy for the treatment of large carotid cavernous aneurysms (CCAs) was compared between conventional endovascular treatments, stent-assisted coiling (SAC), parent artery occlusion (PAO), and the flow diverter (FD). METHODS: Between January 2001 and December 2015, 49 patients with large, broad-necked, unruptured CCA underwent endovascular treatment at our institution. We performed PAO in 22 patients, SAC in 18 patients, and FD in 9 patients. Safety and efficacy were assessed in all patients by periodic clinical and radiological examinations during a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: All 22 aneurysms treated with PAO disappeared immediately after treatment, but in the SAC-treated group, complete occlusion was obtained in only 5 of the 18 patients. All aneurysms in the FD group resulted in body filling. Perioperative ipsilateral temporary ischemic events occurred in 6 cases (PAO 4, SAC 2, FD 0). Delayed deterioration or new onset of cranial nerve symptoms was observed in 10 cases (PAO 3, SAC 3, FD 4), almost all of which recovered within 3 months. During the 6-month follow-up, all aneurysms treated with PAO showed a decrease in size without recanalization. In the SAC group, 12 aneurysms showed neck remnants, and marked recanalization occurred in 4 cases. Six of the 9 aneurysms in the FD group were completely occluded. CONCLUSIONS: The FD provided excellent final results despite transient worsening of symptoms. Although further long-term follow-up is essential, from a cost-effective and time-saving viewpoint, FD is a relatively safe and reliable method for the treatment of large CCAs.

Usefulness of the Pipeline Embolic Device for Large and Giant Carotid Cavernous Aneurysms / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: Conventional coil embolization for large carotid cavernous aneurysms (CCAs) has limited utility due to its inability to prevent recurrences and reduce mass effect. Trapping of the parent artery may have a risk of ischemic complications due to intracranial perfusion disorders. We successfully treated 24 patients with large CCAs using a flow diverter (Pipeline™ embolic device: PED), and this report discusses the safety and efficacy of this method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty four patients (23 females, mean age 71.5 years old) with large CCAs, including 6 giant CCAs, were treated with a PED over three years. Under sufficient dual anti-platelet management, the PED was deployed over the orifice of the aneurysm. Two patients required multiple telescoping stents. Clinical and radiological states were checked with MRI at 1, 3 and 6 months post-surgically. Angiographic follow-up was performed at 6 months. RESULTS: In all patients, PED was appropriately deployed. Stagnation of contrast with eclipse signs was observed post-angiogram in 21 cases. One patient requiring 5 telescoping stents experienced temporary ischemic symptoms. Fourteen patients experienced improvement of ocular motor impairment deficiency, including 6 patients who recovered. Angiograms at 6 months follow-up showed complete occlusion in 63% (12/19) of patients, and MRI showed reduction of aneurysm volume in 89% (17/19) of patients. CONCLUSION: Flow diverters for large CCAs showed promising clinical and radiological efficacy. They can shrink the aneurysm and improve symptoms without sacrificing the parent artery. It will be necessary to summarize the cases and to verify the long-term results.

Urgent treatment of severe symptomatic direct carotid cavernous fistula caused by ruptured cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm using high-flow bypass, proximal ligation, and direct distal clipping: Technical case report.

BACKGROUND: Direct carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) secondary to ruptured carotid cavernous aneurysms (CCAs) is rare, but patients with this condition who develop acutely worsening and severe neuro-ophthalmic symptoms require urgent treatment. Endovascular methods are the first-line option, but this modality may not be available on an urgent basis. CASE DESCRIPTION: In this article, we report a 45-year-old female with severe direct CCF due to rupture of the CCA. She presented with intractable headache and acute worsening of double vision and visual acuity. Emergent radiographic study revealed high-flow fistula tracked from the CCA toward the contralateral cavernous sinus and drained into the engorged left superior orbital vein. To prevent permanent devastating neuro-ophthalmic damages, urgent high-flow bypass with placement of a radial artery graft was performed followed by right cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) ligation and the clipping of the ICA at the C3 portion, proximal to the ophthalmic artery. In the immediate postoperative period, her symptoms resolved and angiography confirmed patency of the high-flow bypass and complete occlusion of the CCF. CONCLUSION: With due consideration of strategy and techniques to secure safety, open surgical intervention with trapping and bypass is a good treatment option for direct severe CCF when the endovascular method is not available, not possible, or is unsuccessful.

Presentation and treatment of carotid cavernous aneurysms / Apresentação e tratamento dos aneurismas intracavernosos

We analyzed a group of patients with the diagnosis of internal carotid aneurysms in its intracavernous segment, with emphasis in prevalence, clinical features, treatments, evolution and neurological prognosis. Neurological signs and symptoms at initial presentation were registered and compared with final outcome. Patients were divided into two stratified groups, one with 19 patients which underwent interventionist treatment, and another with 21 patients who were conservatively treated. The present study demonstrated that intervention is significantly correlated with a better prognosis considering evolution of pain symptoms secondary to neurovascular compression (p=0,002). Regarding neurological deficits, an interventionist approach was also significantly correlated with better outcome in comparison with initial presentation (p=0,008). These results indicate that interventionist treatment determines improvement or resolution of pain symptoms in comparison with patients conservatively treated, as well as stabilization or partial improvement of neuro-ophthalmological deficits.

Analisamos um grupo de pacientes com diagnóstico de aneurismas da artéria carótida interna, em sua porção intracavernosa, estudando-se: prevalência, apresentação clínica, formas de tratamento, evolução e prognóstico neurológico. Os sintomas e sinais neurológicos da apresentação foram registrados e comparados ao término do acompanhamento, com um grupo de 21 aneurismas submetidos a tratamento conservador e outro com 19 a tratamento intervencionista. O estudo demonstrou que a intervenção está relacionada a um melhor prognóstico, quanto à evolução do quadro álgico secundário à compressão neurovascular (p=0,002). Em relação ao déficit neurológico, a abordagem intervencionista pôde ser associada com uma melhora do quadro inicial (p=0,008). Estes resultados indicam que o tratamento intervencionista proporcionou melhora ou resolução do sintoma dor em comparação ao grupo de pacientes com tratamento conservador, além de levar a uma estabilização ou melhora parcial dos déficits neuro-oftalmológicos.