Surgical cannulation of the superior ophthalmic vein for the treatment of previously embolized cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas: serial studies and angiographic follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transorbital puncture for the retreatment of previously embolized cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) via a superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 12-year period, 9 consecutive patients with previously embolized cavernous sinus DAVFs underwent retreatment via the transorbital SOV approach. RESULTS: All of the nine cases of previously embolized cavernous sinus DAVFs were successfully embolized. Clinical follow-ups were conducted in all nine cases at the duration of 17-141 months (61.22 ± 39.13 months). No recanalization occurred during the follow-up period. A subtle ptosis appeared in two patients and disappeared in one of the two cases after a 4-year follow-up. One patient suffered from paroxysmal positional vertigo and bruit for nearly 2 years after the treatment, but the follow-up angiography demonstrated no recurrence. One patient had persistent visual impairment caused by the initial venous stasis retinopathy. One patient with a history of a procedure-related transient decrease in visual acuity had it return to the normal level. The remaining four cases had clear improvement in the ocular symptoms and became completely asymptomatic during the follow-up period. No patient worsened or developed new symptoms. CONCLUSION: The approach of surgical cannulation of the SOV for the retreatment of previously embolized cavernous sinus DAVFs was proved feasible and efficient, especially when the transarterial and transfemoral venous approaches were inaccessible. However, if the SOV is not dilated enough or is located deeply in the orbit, transorbital venous puncture access may not be possible.

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway inhibits the proliferation and apoptosis of U87 glioma cells via different mechanisms.

The Wnt signaling pathway is necessary for the development of the central nervous system and is associated with tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, the mechanism of the Wnt signaling pathway in glioma cells has yet to be elucidated. Small-molecule Wnt modulators such as ICG-001 and AZD2858 were used to inhibit and stimulate the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Techniques including cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay, Matrigel cell invasion assay, cell cycle assay and Genechip microarray were used. Gene Ontology Enrichment Analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis have enriched many biological processes and signaling pathways. Both the inhibiting and stimulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways could influence the cell cycle, moreover, reduce the proliferation and survival of U87 glioma cells. However, Affymetrix expression microarray indicated that biological processes and networks of signaling pathways between stimulating and inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway largely differ. We propose that Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway might prove to be a valuable therapeutic target for glioma.

The effect of Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms and clinical factors on progressive aneurysm occlusion on angiographic follow-up.

Stent-assisted coil embolization is an endovascular treatment for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, but the durability of this treatment is not well known. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the Neuroform stent (Boston Scientific/Target, Fremont, CA, USA) in progressive occlusion of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, and to assess any correlation between clinical factors and angiographic follow-up results. The records of 52 patients treated with a Neuroform stent were retrieved for analysis of population characteristics, initial and follow-up angiographic results, and clinical outcomes. Initial angiographic results showed complete occlusion in 21 (40.4%), neck remnants in 22 (42.3%), and residual aneurysms in nine (17.3%). Angiographic follow-up was available in 45 of 52 (86.5%) patients: complete occlusion was achieved in 32 (71.1%), neck remnants were present in eight (17.8%) and residual aneurysms in five (11.1%). Of 31 patients with immediate incomplete obliteration, progressive complete occlusion was achieved in 16 of 28 (57.1%) patients. Clinical follow-up showed good outcomes according to the modified Rankin Scale score. A univariate analysis showed that there was no effect of the tested clinical variables of patient age (p=0.823), gender (p=0.419), aneurysm location (p=0.394), size (p=0.625) and rupture status (p=0.721) on aneurysm occlusion at follow-up. We conclude that the Neuroform stent-assisted neck remodelling technique improves progressive occlusion of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms with good clinical outcomes.

Factors responsible for poor outcome after intraprocedural rerupture of ruptured intracranial aneurysms: identification of risk factors, prevention and management on 18 cases.

PURPOSE: The paper mainly involved the retrospective approach to risk factors of intraprocedual rerupture (IPR) and illustration of our empirical prevention and management on this event as well as its postembolization outcomes evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endovascular treatment was performed in 1308 patients with 1308 ruptured intracranial aneurysms, and IPR occurred in 18 cases. We retrospectively reviewed their clinical records and images, and analysis risk factors of IPR by using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The morbidity of IPR was 1.38% and mortality was 33.33%. Nine patients survived from rapid completion of coiling with immediate reversal of heparin anticoagulation with protamine sulfate, and 3 from emergent external ventricular drainage (EVD). However, 9 of them presented with different degrees of disability and 3 were fully recovered. Small aneurysms (diameter ≤ 3.0mm) (OR 284.212, 95% C.I. 17.368-4650.780, P=0.000), atherosclerosis (OR 7.866, 95% C.I. 1.113-55.570, P=0.039), Fisher Grade III (OR 82.099, 95% C.I. 1.563-431.696, P=0.029), vasospasm (grade I) (OR 32.269, 95% C.I. 2.393-435.132, P=0.009) and vasospasm (grade II) (OR 30.238, 95% C.I. 1.770-516.552, P=0.019) are risk factors of IPR. Aneurysms at proximal part of internal carotid artery (ICA), bifurcation and basilar artery (BA) stem (OR 0.003, 95% C.I. 0.000-0.101, P=0.001) and Hunt and Hess Grade II (OR 0.010, 95% C.I. 0.000-0.346, P=0.011) are identified as protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: Small aneurysms, atherosclerosis, Fisher Grade of SAH and cerebral vasospasm are the predictors of IPR. Aneurysms at proximal part of ICA bifurcation and BA stem and Hunt and Hess Grade II are less associated with IPR. Rapid completion of coiling combined with immediate reversal of heparin anticoagulation is confirmed to be the best strategy in our series.

Impact of ultra-early coiling on clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in elderly patients.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is increasing in the elderly as life expectancy increases. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether ultra-early coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms improves clinical outcomes in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of patients (aged ≥ 70 years) with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with endovascular coiling were retrieved. Patients were classified into two groups: group A (patients coiled within 24 hours of subarachnoid hemorrhage) and group B (patients coiled ≥24 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage). For each group, patient demographics, World Federation of Neurological Surgeons clinical grade, Fisher computed tomographic grade, aneurysm characteristics, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Outcomes were measured using the Modified Rankin Scale at 6 months. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were coiled within 24 hours of subarachnoid hemorrhage (group A) and 40 patients at ≥24 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage (group B). Groups A and B had similar clinical and angiographic characteristics. Clinical outcomes showed that a total of 87.5% of patient (49 of 56) in group A were independent (Modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) compared with 70.0% of patients (28 of 40) in group B (P = .034). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, ultra-early coiling (odds ratio, 3.860; 95% confidence interval, 1.125-13.249; P = .032) proved to be an independent predictor of better clinical outcome (Modified Rankin Scale score 0-2). CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-early (<24 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage) coiling of ruptured aneurysms was marginally associated with improved clinical outcomes compared to coiling at ≥24 hours in elderly patients. Larger, prospective studies are required to adequately assess outcome differences between these two groups.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured sausage-shaped intracranial aneurysms with the "interlacing ball" technique.

We applied the "interlacing ball" technique to 18 ruptured sausage-shaped intracranial aneurysms (SSIA) with Hunt and Hess Grades I to III in 18 patients. Coils were joined to form the first three-dimensional ball-like structure at the dome of the aneurysm. A segment of the last coil was purposely left out of the first ball so that it could be joined with the next coil used to form a second "ball". This second ball was woven into the neck portion in a net-like fashion to prevent coil protrusion into the parent artery. An immediate post-procedural angiogram showed complete occlusion in 16 aneurysms (88.9%) and near-complete occlusion in two aneurysms with no complications. Sixteen patients were discharged with a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score of 5, and two with a GOS score of 4. One patient developed an enlarging aneurysm neck as visualized on an angiogram, while 17 aneurysms (94.4%) demonstrated no recurrence, within 3 months to 37 months of follow-up. We report that this technique is useful for the successful embolization of SSIA.

Recovery of posterior communicating artery aneurysm-induced oculomotor nerve paresis after endovascular treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Recovery of aneurysm-induced oculomotor nerve paresis (ONP) after endosaccular coiling has not yet been adequately assessed. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that affect the outcome of ONP after endovascular treatment of posterior communicating artery (PcomA) aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics and the outcome of oculomotor nerve function in a series of 36 patients with ONP due to PcomA aneurysms treated by endovascular coiling. Univariate analysis was applied to test the association between ONP recovery and clinical variables. RESULTS: Thirty-six consecutive patients (20 women, 16 men; mean age, 54.3±9 years) presenting with ONP underwent endosaccular coiling were enrolled in this study. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was present in 21 patients. The mean size of the aneurysms was 9.3±3.9mm. ONP was complete in 14 patients (38.9%) and partial in 22 patients (61.1%) at admission. Seventeen patients (47.2%) had complete recovery of oculomotor nerve function, 15 had incomplete recovery (41.7%), and 4 (11.1%) remained unchanged after treatment. Factors showing significant association with recovery of oculomotor nerve function were the length and degree of ONP before treatment (P=0.035 and P=0.019, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Endosaccular coiling of PcomA aneurysms in patients with ONP resulted in cure or improvement of oculomotor nerve dysfunction in the majority of patients. The length and degree of preoperative ONP were the statistically significant predictors of complete ONP recovery.

[A modified endovascular treatment for longitudinal intracranial aneurysm].

OBJECTIVE: To study the surgical approach and curative effect of the "interlocking basket" technique in interventional therapy for longitudinal intracranial aneurysm. METHODS: Thirty-eight Hunt and Hess Grade I-III patients with longitudinal intracranial aneurysm underwent interventional therapy using the "interlocking basket" technique. During the operation, the aneurysm was divided into two segments based on its length and occluded with two coils. The first coil with a transverse diameter matching that of the aneurysm was deployed to form a "basket", which was densely occluded, and a portion of this coil out of the "basket" was interlocked with the second coil to form another "basket" crossing the aneurysmal neck to prevent the coils from escaping till the neck of the aneurysm was densely occluded. RESULTS: Thirty-five aneurysms (92.1%) were completely embolized, and 3 (7.9%) were 95% embolized. No coil escaping from the aneurysm neck or other complications occurred. Twenty-five patients were discharged with a GOS score of 5 (65.8%), 7 (18.4%) with a score of 4, and 6 (15.8%) had a score of 3. In the follow-up for 3-25 months after the embolization, angiography was performed in 28 cases, and recurrence was found in 2 cases (7.14%). CONCLUSION: The "interlocking basket" technique can increase the coil stability in longitudinal intracranial aneurysm and allows reliable block of the aneurysm neck and dense embolization of the aneurysm to improve the clinical outcomes of the patients.