Endovascular management of extracranial occlusions at the hyperacute phase of stroke with tandem occlusions.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The management of cervical artery occlusions in hyperacute stroke with tandem cervical/intracranial occlusions has not yet become standardized, especially when the circle of Willis is effective. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the safety and accuracy of current approaches to manage the cervical occlusion in consecutive patients with tandem occlusions addressed for intracranial mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in our department from January 2012 to May 2017. The different approaches that could be performed in a same patient during the same procedure or hospitalization were analyzed separately. RESULTS: We reported 64 approaches to manage the cervical occlusion in 49 patients with tandem occlusion (14% of MT): medical treatment alone in 16/64 (25%), stenting/angioplasty in 16/64 (25%), occlusion with coils in 12/64 (19%), angioplasty alone in 9/64 (14%), stent-retriever in 8/64 (12%), and/or thromboaspiration in 3/64 (5%). Early ipsilateral embolic recurrence occurred after 9/64 (14%) of them. It was strongly associated with the presence of a cervical intraluminal thrombus (P=0.001) and was then lower after occlusion with coils and stent-retriever compared to medical treatment alone and thromboaspiration (P=0.002). Occlusion with coils had a lower rate of radiological intracranial hemorrhage at 48-hour compared to other approaches (P=0.009). The 3-month rates of favorable outcome (P=0.806) and mortality (P=0.878) were similar. One delayed stroke was imputable to an occlusion with coils, for a median (Q1-Q3) follow-up of 10 (3-20) months. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical occlusion with coils and thrombectomy with stent-retrievers may be relevant to prevent early embolic recurrence in cervical occlusions with intraluminal thrombus. Stent-retrievers should be further assessed as a first-line approach, since delayed stroke may occur following occlusion with coils. Medical treatment alone may be sufficient when no cervical intraluminal thrombus is present, the Willis polygon is effective, and the cervical occlusion can be crossed easily to perform the intracranial thrombectomy.

Pregnancy after embolization of uterine myoma: report of 12 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To treat uterine myomas with embolization, to look for pregnancy-induced myoma recurrences, and to assess pregnancy course and outcome after embolization. DESIGN: Observational clinical study. SETTING: University of Paris VII hospital. PATIENT(S): Nine women had embolization for symptomatic myoma, with 12 pregnancies observed. INTERVENTION(S): Embolizations were highly selective and performed bilaterally through the uterine arteries with polyvinyl alcohol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnant women were evaluated by physical and sonographic examinations. RESULT(S): Before embolization, the mean uterine volume was 450 cm(3), and in six patients polymyomas were present. The median age at embolization was 40 years; the median delay before pregnancy was 9 months; and the median age at first pregnancy outcome was 41 years. Five early miscarriages occurred. The seven other pregnancies were uneventful, although three premature births and one case of late toxemia occurred unrelated to previous embolization. Three women delivered vaginally and four by cesarean section. Neither myoma recurrence nor abnormality in uterine function was observed. CONCLUSION(S): The results of this first series of 12 pregnancies after myoma embolization are promising. If these preliminary results are confirmed, embolization could be a major breakthrough in the management of myoma and could replace conventional medical and surgical treatments.

Endovascular treatment of a giant fusiform aneurysm of the entire basilar artery.

The authors describe a case of fusiform basilar artery aneurysm not amenable to surgical clipping or balloon occlusion with preservation of the parent artery. The aneurysm was treated by balloon occlusion (proximal basilar artery) after test occlusion was well-tolerated; 7-year follow-up showed good results.

Embolization of arteriovenous malformations of the temporal lobe via the anterior choroidal artery.

The indications, technique, and results of embolization of arteriovenous malformations with liquid adhesive agents delivered through the anterior choroidal artery are reported. Arteriovenous malformations of the temporal lobe were found in four patients with intracerebral bleeding and two with intractable epilepsy. In five of the six, the dominant arterial feeder was the anterior choroidal artery. All patients underwent superselective catheterization of the anterior choroidal artery and embolization of the arteriovenous malformation. Complications related to the anterior choroidal artery embolization developed after embolization in one patient, after which we changed our technique of embolizing arteriovenous malformations via this artery. A thorough understanding of the functional anatomic structures supplied by each segment of the artery is important. Guidelines for safe catheterization and embolization are given. Embolization of arteriovenous malformations fed predominantly by the anterior choroidal artery is difficult and dangerous. An understanding of the functional anatomy of this artery and proper technique can enable successful embolization of arteriovenous malformations via this route.

Percutaneous puncture of the external carotid artery or its branches after surgical ligation.

PURPOSE: To describe the technique and results of percutaneous puncture of the external carotid artery or one of its branches distal to a surgical arterial ligation. METHODS: Forty-three patients underwent 64 embolization attempts by percutaneous arterial puncture distal to an external carotid artery ligation. The punctured arteries were the trunk of the external carotid artery in 31 patients, the internal maxillary artery in nine, the facial artery in nine, the lingual artery in eight, the occipital artery in four, and the superficial temporal artery in three. RESULTS: In 64 attempts 57 were successful in one session, six were successful in two sessions, and one failed. Puncture-related complications were eight spontaneously resolving hematomas and six asymptomatic punctures of the internal carotid artery. CONCLUSION: After surgical ligation of the external carotid artery or its branches, arterial puncture above the ligation allowed selective catheterization and endovascular occlusion of vascular lesions.

Major complications of percutaneous embolization of skull-base tumors.

The technique of direct intratumoral injection of permanent liquid polymerizing agent was initially described in 1994 and has evolved significantly with experience. We report complications that occurred in two patients during injection of Histoacryl and offer suggestions to prevent such complications in the future. In one patient, the glue settled in the right middle cerebral artery; in the second, the glue entered the left ophthalmic artery through a collateral branch. Although the fundamental injection technique has not changed, we suggest additional precautions and modifications to make this procedure a safer and more valuable element in the overall management of patients with difficult skull-base tumors.

Giant perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas of the spine: clinical and radiologic features and endovascular treatment.

PURPOSE: To present the clinical and radiologic features of giant perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas (GAVFs) in 12 consecutive cases and to evaluate the results of endovascular treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiologic data as well as the results of balloon endovascular treatment obtained from 1980 to 1989. RESULTS: GAVFs, defined as large intradural perimedullary direct arteriovenous high-flow shunts, are revealed mainly in childhood either by subarachnoid hemorrhage or by progressive neurologic disorders. MR imaging and myelography show major vascular dilatations. The angioarchitecture of GAVFs can only be assessed by selective spinal angiography. Ten patients were treated by balloon occlusion resulting in eight anatomic cures and six good clinical results. One balloon migrated to the venous side, leading to clinical deterioration. CONCLUSION: GAVF is a special subgroup of intradural perimedullary arteriovenous fistula. The endovascular approach should be the first line of treatment, with surgery reserved for special circumstances. Nondetachable balloon occlusion is a safe and efficient method for treating GAVFs.

Aneurysms of spinal arteries associated with intramedullary arteriovenous malformations. II. Results of AVM endovascular treatment and hemodynamic considerations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes occurring in spinal aneurysm (SA) size related to modification of endovascularly treated AVMs. METHODS: Fourteen patients with an intramedullary AVM and associated SA underwent endovascular treatment of their AVM with particles. Embolization sessions numbered from one to 14 (mean five) in each patient. RESULTS: Four patients had SAs with size changes mirroring those of the AVM with embolization: these decreased in size or disappeared after AVM reduction or cure and increased or recurred after AVM recanalization. A second group of patients had SAs that remained unchanged despite AVM changes (six of seven of these were in patients with metameric angiomatosis). CONCLUSIONS: Results in the first group lend support to the hemodynamic theory of associated aneurysm formation. On the other hand, aneurysms that remained unchanged probably are not AVM flow-related and could be an expression of an extensive vascular disorder such as metameric angiomatosis; however, hemodynamic and developmental factors could be concurrent.

Trisacryl gelatin microspheres for therapeutic embolization, II: preliminary clinical evaluation in tumors and arteriovenous malformations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate an embolic agent that is precisely calibrated, perfectly spherical in shape, and soft but nonresorbable for use in the embolization of vascular disease of the head, neck, and spine in humans. METHODS: We used supple, hydrophilic, and calibrated trisacryl gelatin microspheres 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 microns in diameter for superselective embolization in 105 patients (27 tumors, 14 facial arteriovenous malformations [AVMs], 37 spinal cord AVMs, 21 cerebral AVMs, and 6 miscellaneous diseases). We used particles in 200 to 600 microns in diameter for tumors and for facial AVMs, particles 400 to 600 microns in diameter for spinal cord AVMs, and particles over 1000 micros in diameter for cerebral AVMs. RESULTS: Delivery of the embolic material was easy: microspheres did not aggregate and catheters did not become obstructed by particles. It was possible to control the embolization through precise accounting of the amount of microspheres and matching of the particle size to the size of the pathologic vascular network. CONCLUSION: The microspheres are easy to use and allow precise control of the embolization procedure. Their physical characteristics make them a safe embolic agent.

Percutaneous transvenous catheterization and embolization of vein of galen aneurysms.

Seven cases of vein of Galen aneurysms treated by percutaneous transvenous endovascular occlusion of the aneurysmal vein are presented. In one case, the approach was via the femoral vein, and in the other six cases, by the jugular vein. All of the malformations were multipedicular and, additionally, in six of the seven there was an intervening arterial-arterial network between the posterior thalamoperforating arteries and the wall of the venous aneurysm. This fistulous network was interpreted as purely arterial and not as an associated arteriovenous malformation. For this reason, the transvenous approach was considered justified, and was performed without risk of hemorrhage caused by retrograde venous hypertension. Measurement of intra-aneurysmal pressure during the course of treatment allowed better understanding of the hemodynamics of the lesions, guided the amount of occlusion to be accomplished during each treatment session, and thus may have prevented the phenomenon of normal perfusion pressure breakthrough. The percutaneous transvenous approach offers all the advantages of the transtorcular approach but avoids surgery. Because of our excellent angiographic and clinical results--five complete and two partial occlusions, with favorable outcomes and no major complications--we believe that this technique is better for the treatment of multipedicular vein of Galen aneurysms than transarterial embolization or surgery.

Selective endovascular techniques in the treatment of cerebral mycotic aneurysms. Report of three cases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of endovascular treatment for intracranial mycotic aneurysms. The clinical and angiographic features of three patients with endocarditic vegetation (two with Streptococcus viridans and one with Staphylococcus) were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were selected for this treatment according to the clinical setting and aneurysm location. In two cases, selective catheterization of a distal middle cerebral and posterior cerebral artery branch with a microcatheter followed by superselective amobarbital testing of the parent vessel was preliminary to the occlusion of that vessel with autologous clot or glue. The third patient was treated by selective occlusion of the aneurysm by intra-aneurysmal placement of platinum minicoils. Two patients presented with intracranial hemorrhage and in one the lesion was found on computerized tomography. All three aneurysms had been excluded from the circulation at the 6-month follow-up review. The only complication from the procedure, despite the septic nature and distal localization, was balloon deflation in one patient, who was successfully retreated with coils. Endovascular embolization is indicated in patients who are at risk of hemorrhage and cannot undergo the standard procedure. The superselective amobarbital test allows selection of patients who will tolerate distal vessel occlusion. This endovascular procedure represents a safe and effective treatment for these lesions.

Curative treatment of scalp arteriovenous fistulas by direct puncture and embolization with absolute alcohol. Report of three cases.

Three cases of direct arteriovenous fistulas of the scalp (two involving cirsoid aneurysms) are presented. All three patients were treated with direct puncture of the venous pouch and injection of absolute ethyl alcohol during compression of the venous outflow of the fistula. Two of the three patients were cured with this treatment alone. The third patient, with a very high-flow giant fistula, required injection of glue to close the fistula and subsequent surgical extirpation of the resulting hard mass lesion.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with spinal perimedullary venous drainage.

Intracranial dural arteriovenous (AV) fistulas with spinal perimedullary venous drainage are rare lesions that have distinctive clinical, radiological, and therapeutic aspects. Five patients presented with an ascending myelopathy, which extended to involve the brain stem in three cases. Myelography and magnetic resonance imaging showed slightly dilated spinal perimedullary vessels. Spinal angiograms were normal in the arterial phase. Diagnosis was only possible after cerebral angiography, which demonstrated posterior fossa AV fistulas fed by meningeal arteries and draining into spinal perimedullary veins. Endovascular treatment alone resulted in angiographic obliteration of the lesion in three patients. Two patients required surgery in addition to endovascular therapy. One patient died postoperatively, and in one a transient complication of embolization was observed. Improvement after treatment was good in two cases and fair in two. Transverse sinus thrombosis was observed in three cases and was probably the cause of the aberrant venous drainage of the fistula into the spinal perimedullary veins. The pathophysiology is related to spinal cord venous hypertension. These lesions were classified as Type 5 in the Djindjian and Merland classification of dural intracranial AV fistulas. Endovascular therapy is a safe effective method in the treatment of these fistulas and should be tried first.

Selective endovascular treatment of 71 intracranial aneurysms with platinum coils.

Seventy-one intracranial aneurysms were treated by endovascular techniques, with the placement of minicoils inside the aneurysmal sac. Most aneurysms were manifest by hemorrhage (67 cases), and 43 of these were treated within the first 3 days after presentation. At the 1-year follow-up examination, the outcome was scored as good in 84.5% of cases, but the morbidity and mortality rates were 4.2% and 11.3%, respectively. Twenty-nine aneurysms in the anterior circulation and 42 in the posterior circulation were treated. In this series, 23 patients were classified as Hunt and Hess neurological Grade I, 27 as Grade II, 12 as Grade III, nine as Grade IV, and none as Grade V. Thirty-three aneurysms were less than 10 mm in diameter, 28 were 10 to 25 mm, and 10 were larger than 25 mm. The preliminary results from this study appear to justify the emergency treatment of aneurysms by this approach. Aneurysms in the posterior circulation are particularly well suited for this type of surgery.

Endovascular occlusion of intracranial vessels for curative treatment of unclippable aneurysms: report of 16 cases.

Among 121 intracerebral aneurysms presenting at one institution between 1984 and 1989, 16 were treated by endovascular means. All 16 lesions were intradural and intracranial, and had failed either surgical or endovascular attempts at selective exclusion with parent vessel preservation. The lesions included four giant middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms, one giant anterior communicating artery aneurysm, six giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, one posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm, one giant mid-basilar artery aneurysm, two giant fusiform basilar artery aneurysms, and one dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm. One of the 16 patients failed an MCA test occlusion and was approached surgically after attempted endovascular selective occlusion. Treatment involved pretreatment evaluation of cerebral blood flow followed by a preliminary parent vessel test occlusion under neuroleptic analgesia with vigilant neurological monitoring. If the test occlusion was tolerated, it was immediately followed by permanent occlusion of the parent vessel with either detachable or nondetachable balloon or coils. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 8 years. Excellent outcomes were obtained in 12 cases with complete angiographic obliteration of the aneurysm and no new neurological deficits and/or improvement of the preembolization symptoms. Four patients died: two related to the procedure, one secondary to rupture of another untreated aneurysm, and the fourth from a postoperative MCA thrombosis after having failed endovascular test occlusion. The angiographic, clinical, and cerebral blood flow criteria for occlusion tolerance are discussed.

Endovascular occlusion of vertebral arteries in the treatment of unclippable vertebrobasilar aneurysms.

Twenty-one patients with aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar circulation underwent unilateral or bilateral endovascular occlusion of the vertebral artery. Six patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 10 with mass effect, four with mass effect and SAH, and one with ischemic symptoms. Thirteen patients had good outcomes with complete clinical and angiographic cure. Six patients had partial thrombosis of their aneurysms. There was one death and one treatment failure. One patient suffered transient stroke. It is concluded that endovascular occlusion of the vertebral artery following test occlusion is a safe and effective treatment for proximal aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar circulation.

Treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations by embolization and radiosurgery.

Embolization was used to reduce the size of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) prior to radiosurgical treatment in 125 patients who were poor surgical candidates or had refused surgery. Of these patients, 81% had suffered hemorrhage, and 22.4% had undergone treatment at another institution. According to the Spetzler-Martin scale, the AVMs were Grade II in 9.6%, Grade III in 31.2%, Grade IV in 30.4%, and Grades V to VI in 28.8% of the cases. Most embolizations were performed using cyanoacrylate delivered by flow-guided microcatheters. Radiosurgery was performed using a linear accelerator in 62 patients treated by the authors, and 34 patients were treated at other institutions using various methods. Embolization produced total occlusion in 11.2% of AVMs and reduced 76% of AVMs enough to allow radiosurgery. Radiosurgery produced total occlusion in 65% of the partially embolized AVMs (79% when the residual nidus was < 2 cm in diameter). Embolizations resulted in a mortality rate of 1.6% and a morbidity rate of 12.8%. No complications were associated with radiosurgery. The hemorrhage rate for partially embolized AVMs was 3% per year. No patient with a completely occluded AVM experienced rehemorrhage. Angiographic follow-up review of AVMs embolized with cyanoacrylate demonstrated a 11.8% revascularization rate, occurring within 1 year. It is concluded that after partial embolization with cyanoacrylate, the risk of hemorrhage from the residual nidus is comparable to the natural history of AVMs and that the residual nidus can be irradiated with results almost as good as for a native AVM of the same size.

Place of emergency arterial embolisation in obstetric haemorrhage about 16 personal cases.

Delivery bleedings which persist despite of an efficient medical treatment must be offered embolization without delay. Embolization is efficient in nearly 100% of cases; sometimes it has to be repeated. Embolization will it correct coagulopathy in few hours. It is a conservative treatment. It is nowadays undoubtedly the treatment of choice. Territorial organization for the hospital without interventional radiology is needed to organize the transfer of the bleeding patients without delay. Thus, mortality and morbidity as well as hysterectomy will not exist anymore.

[Transluminal angioplasty of the brachiocephalic artery with cerebral protection]. / Angioplastie trans-luminale du tronc artériel brachio-céphalique, sous protection cérébrale.

The authors report one case of percutaneous angioplasty of atherosclerotic symptomatic stenosis of brachiocephalic artery. Angioplasty had been performed using an occlusive balloon in internal carotid artery to realize a cerebral protection. This safer technics allowed to heal the stenosis and the brachiocephalic steal syndrome, without cerebral embolies.

[Superficial and peripheral vascular malformations. Role of interventional radiology and of embolization]. / Les malformations vasculaires superficielles et périphériques. Place de la radiologie interventionnelle et de l'embolisation.

Embolization plays a major role in the management of arteriovenous malformations and fistulae on one hand, and of venous malformations and cystic lymphangiomas on the other hand. The treatment of arteriovenous fistulae today resorts to a primarily endovascular technique including the insertion under controlled flow of a releasable balloon or of a metallic coil positioned in the area of the fistula. Of course, this is possible only if there is a gap between the arterial and venous pathways. When the vessels are in direct contact, surgery must be preferred. In cases of arteriovenous malformations, embolization currently plays a great role; either it is performed with particles in the immediate preoperative period, two or three days before surgery, or as a definitive curative treatment with a polymerizing substance applied in situ. The use of flexible microcatheters allows penetrating into most of these vascular malformations and scattering polymerizing material all over the shunting areas. This is possible for superficial malformations, as is now performed, for instance, for brain AVMs. This embolization obviously can be contemplated only after a decision to treat these malformations has been made, knowing that they may be silent or acquire an uncontrollable evolution potential. This therefore is a collegial decision. As far as venous hemangiomas and cystic lymphangiomas are concerned, the greatest basic therapeutic means today is direct puncture and the in situ injection of a fibrosing substance under angiographic monitoring: the use of Ethibloc or, failing this, of absolute alcohol, has dramatically transformed the prognosis of these malformations, for which the surgical difficulties are well known (easy rupture, blood that often fails to coagulate, life-long progressive evolution).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)