A comparison of dual-lumen balloon and simple microcatheters in the embolization of DAVFs and AVMs using onyx

Advancements in hydrogel-based embolic agents: Categorized by therapeutic mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is a crucial technique in interventional radiology. Hydrogel-based embolic agents show promise due to their phase transition and drug-loading capabilities. However, existing categorizations of these agents are confusing.

AIMS

This review tackles the challenge of categorizing hydrogel-based embolic agents based on their therapeutic mechanisms, including transportation, accumulation, interaction, and elimination. It also addresses current challenges and controversies in the field while highlighting future directions for hydrogel-based embolicagents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of papers published in PUBMED from 2004 to 2024, focusing primarily on preclinical trials.

RESULTS

Various kinds of hydrogel embolic agents were introduced according to their therapeutic mechanisms.

DISCUSSION

Most hydrogel embolic agents were specifically designed for effective accumulation and interaction. Recent advancement highlight the potential of multifunctional hydrogel embolic agents.

CONCLUSION

This new categorizations provided valuable insights into hydrogel embolic agents, potentially guiding material scientists and interventional radiologists in the development of novel hydrogel embolic agents in transarterial embolization.

Initial Experience with the Eclipse Double-Lumen Balloon Catheter for Embolization of Cranial Vascular Malformations

BACKGROUND

Double lumen balloon catheters (DLBCs) have emerged as a potential alternative to single lumen balloon catheters for endovascular embolization of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs). This study describes our preliminary experience with the Eclipse 2L DLBC in treating AVMs and dAVFs.

METHODS

Patients who underwent embolization of cranial dAVFs or AVMs at our institution from August 2021 to March 2024 were included. Spinal vascular malformations were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze procedural outcomes, technical nuances, and postoperative outcomes on follow-up.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients who underwent 38 embolization procedures (15 AVMs and 23 dAVFs) met criteria for inclusion in this study. The mean age of the cohort was 52.44 (standard deviation = 17.26), and 48% of the overall cohort (n = 13) was female. The average procedure times for AVMs and dAVFs were 80.4 minutes and 96.73 minutes, respectively. There was 1 instance of catheter entrapment. Two patients in the AVM cohort experienced mortality, and 1 experienced postoperative rupture.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary experience using the Eclipse 2L balloon catheter for Onyx embolization reported procedural outcomes comparable to other DLBCs despite relatively higher procedure times and radiation doses. Further long-term studies on its efficacy as primary modality in treating AVMs and dAVFs are encouraged.

Multicenter US clinical experience with the Scepter Mini balloon catheter

INTRODUCTION

Distal navigability and imprecise delivery of embolic agents are two limitations encountered during liquid embolization of cerebrospinal lesions. The dual-lumen Scepter Mini balloon (SMB) microcatheter was introduced to overcome these conventional microcatheters' limitations with few small single-center reports suggesting favorable results.

METHODS

A series of consecutive patients undergoing SMB-assisted endovascular embolization were extracted from prospectively maintained registries in seven North-American centers (November 2019 to September 2022).

RESULTS

Fifty-four patients undergoing 55 embolization procedures utilizing SMB were included (median age 58.5; 48.1% females). Cranial dural arteriovenous fistula embolization was the most common indication (54.5%) followed by cranial arteriovenous malformation (27.3%). Staged/pre-operative embolization was done in 36.4% of cases; and 83.6% of procedures using Onyx-18. Most procedures utilized a transarterial approach (89.1%), and SMB-induced arterial-flow arrest concurrently with transvenous embolization was used in 10.9% of procedures. Femoral access/triaxial setups were utilized in the majority of procedures (65.5% and 60%, respectively). The median vessel diameter where the balloon was inflated of 1.8 mm, with a median of 1.5 cc of injected embolic material per procedure. Technical failures occurred in 5.5% of cases requiring aborting/replacement with other devices without clinical sequelae in any of the patients, with SMB-related procedural complications of 3.6% without clinical sequelae. Radiographic imaging follow-up was available in 76.9% of the patients (median follow-up 3.8 months), with complete occlusion (100%) or >50% occlusion in 92.5% of the cases, and unplanned retreatments in 1.8%.

CONCLUSION

The SMB microcatheter is a useful new adjunctive device for balloon-assisted embolization of cerebrospinal lesions with a high technical success rate, favorable outcomes, and a reasonable safety profile.

Transarterial Embolization of Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: Conventional, Pressure Cooker, and Microballoon Catheter Embolization Techniques

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Dural fistulas are abnormal connections between dural arteries and intracranial veins treated mainly endovascularly in most settings. The aim was to examine a single-institution experience of microballoon catheter transarterial embolization (TAE) of dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) and compare it with other TAE techniques.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified all dAVFs treated at our institution between 2017 and 2022 with microballoon, conventional, and pressure cooker TAE. We studied occlusion and retreatment rates, treatment-related complications, and radiation doses.

RESULTS

During the study period, 66 patients underwent 75 TAE procedures to treat 68 dAVFs: 47 conventional TAE, 14 pressure cooker TAE, and 14 microballoon TAE. Median age of the study population was 63 years with 32% females. The most common dAVF location was the transverse sinus and 20% of dAVFs presented with hemorrhage. At 3-month follow-up, stable complete occlusion of the dAVF was seen in 72% (n = 34) after conventional TAE, 79% (n = 11) after pressure cooker TAE, and 86% (n = 12) after microballoon TAE. Retreatment was required in 19% (n = 9) after conventional TAE, 7% (n = 1) after pressure cooker TAE, and 7% (n = 1) after microballoon TAE. Treatment-related complications occurred in 17% (n =) after conventional TAE, 29% (n = 4) after pressure cooker TAE, and 7% (n = 1) after microballoon TAE.

CONCLUSION

In our experience, microballoon TAE of dAVFs resulted in better initial and 3-month angiographic outcomes and required less retreatment than conventional TAE. Microballoon TAE also resulted in fewer treatment-related complications than other techniques. In our experience, microballoon TAE is a reliable and safe endovascular technique to treat dAVFs.

Balloon Pressure Technique with the Scepter Mini Balloon as Part of the Endovascular Strategy for Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Embolization : Preliminary Multicenter Experience

BACKGROUND

The balloon pressure technique (BPT) is an alternative to the pressure cooker technique. A dual lumen balloon (DLB) is used to inject the liquid embolic agent through the working lumen while the balloon is inflated. The purpose of our study was to report our early experience using the Scepter Mini dual lumen balloons for BPT in brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) embolization.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Consecutive patients treated from July 2020 to July 2021 in 3 tertiary centers using the BPT with low-profile dual lumen balloons (Scepter Mini, Microvention, Tustin, CA, USA) by endovascular means for bAVMs were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics and bAVM angio-architectural features were collected. The feasibility of Scepter Mini balloon navigation close to the nidus was evaluated. Technical as well as clinical (ischemic and/or hemorrhagic) complications were also systematically assessed. The occlusion rate was evaluated on follow-up DSA.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients (10 females; mean age = 38.2 years) consecutively treated for a bAVM (8 ruptured/11 unruptured) using the BPT with a Scepter Mini through 23 embolization sessions were included in our series. Navigation of the Scepter Mini was feasible in all cases. Of the patients 3 (16%) had procedure-related ischemic stroke and 2 patients (10.5%) had late hemorrhages. None of these complications led to severe permanent sequela. Complete occlusion of bAVM embolized with intention to cure was recorded in 11/13 cases (84.6%).

CONCLUSION

The BPT using low-profile dual lumen balloons is feasible and seems safe for embolization of bAVMs. It may help to reach high occlusion rates, especially when performed in the intent to cure by embolization only.

Safety and efficacy of dual lumen balloon catheters for the Treatment of cerebral vascular malformations: A systematic review, pooled analysis, and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence in scientific literature assessing the safety and efficacy of dual-lumen balloon catheters (DLBCs) and their performance compared to single-lumen catheters (SLCs).

METHODS

In this PROSPERO-registered, PRISMA-compliant systematic review, we identified all MEDLINE and EMBASE single-arm (DLBCs) and double-arm (DLBCs vs SLCs) cohorts where DLBCs were used for the treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs). Immediate angiographic outcome, vascular complications, technical failures, reflux episodes and entrapment were the primary outcomes. A meta-analysis of the double-arm studies summarized the primary outcomes of total procedural time and immediate angiographic outcome.

RESULTS

The authors identified 18 studies encompassing 209 treated lesions with reported outcomes. Complete occlusion was achieved in 108/132 treated dAVFs (81.8%, 95% CI: [74-87.8%]) and in 45/77 treated AVMs (58.4%, [46.7-69.4%]). The proportion of completely occluded dAVFs was statistically significantly higher than that of AVMs, p < .001. There were eight reported vascular complications (3.8%, [1.8-7.7%]), five technical failures (2.4%, [0.9-5.8%]), 14 reflux events (6.7%, [3.9-11.2%]), two entrapment events (1%, [0.2-3.8%]) and 0 deaths (mortality rate 0%, [0-2.3%]). In a meta-analysis for the treatment of dAVFs, the total procedural time was significantly less for DLBCs compared to SLCs (64.9 vs 125.7 min, p < .0001). The odds of complete immediate occlusion were significantly higher with DLBCs compared to SLCs (odds ratio (OR) 4.6, [1.5-14.3], p = .008).

CONCLUSION

Dual-lumen balloon catheters are safe and effective for the embolization of cerebral AVMs and dAVFs and can achieve faster and potentially superior results compared to SLCs.

REGISTRATION-URL

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ Unique Identifier: CRD42021269096.

Rescue embolization with direct coil delivery from dual-lumen balloon microcatheter

BACKGROUND

Balloon microcatheters are widely used for endovascular treatment. However, no reports on direct coil embolization from dual-lumen balloon microcatheters are available in the literature. This report is the first description of direct coil embolization using this type of balloon microcatheter for looming bleeding emergencies.

METHODS

This retrospective review demonstrates the indications and advantages of coil embolization from an inflated balloon catheter to reduce blood loss and simultaneously occlude bleeding.

RESULTS

Five patients who underwent emergency endovascular treatment using coil embolization directly delivered from a dual-lumen balloon were identified. Etiologies included vertebro-vertebral arteriovenous fistula, ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm, vertebral artery injury during cervical spinal operation, and failed stent retrieval procedures for acute infarction. Complete hemostasis was achieved with all procedures.

CONCLUSION

Our experience demonstrates the feasibility of direct coil embolization by using a dual-lumen balloon to rapidly halt bleeding in some rare emergency situations, which may save lives.

Initial experience with the Scepter Mini catheter for the embolization of vascular malformations in the pediatric population

BACKGROUND

Achieving distal access and flow control are of significant importance for the treatment of intracerebral arteriovenous shunting lesions. The Scepter Mini catheter is a low-profile, dual-lumen balloon catheter, designed to provide navigability in small-caliber, tortuous intracranial vessels.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the initial experience of the Scepter Mini catheter in the treatment of pediatric arteriovenous malformations and fistulas.

METHODS

A single-institution, retrospective chart review identified all consecutive uses of the Scepter Mini catheter for endovascular embolization of vascular malformations in the pediatric population.

RESULTS

Three different arterial pedicles were embolized with the Scepter Mini catheter in two different patients. One patient was diagnosed with a vein of Galen malformation that had undergone multiple treatments and the other with a torcular dural arteriovenous fistula. All cases encompassed quite challenging tortuosity of small-caliber feeders which prevented the use of another microcatheter. The Scepter Mini catheter navigated into feeding arteries of diameters 0.65, 1.9, and 1.25 mm, and its balloon was inflated to achieve excellent blood flow control. Total obliteration (100%) of the shunting lesion was achieved in both cases. No reflux, pedicle rupture or other untoward effects were observed. Both patients had an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSION

The Scepter Mini catheter afforded fast and safe distal access, flow control, and treatment of arteriovenous malformations in this initial pediatric cohort. The catheter's low profile and easy navigability should support its use in tortuous and small arterial feeders, especially in the pediatric population.