Endovascular treatment of ruptured vertebral dissecting aneurysms with electrodetachable coils

Endovascular treatments of intracranial vertebral and internal carotid arteries dissections: An interactive systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Management of intracranial artery dissection (IAD) remains elusive in medical practice. Intracranially, vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is more commonly encountered than internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD). Deconstructive (EVT-d) and reconstructive (EVT-r) endovascular techniques have been utilized to treat VAD and ICAD. This meta-analysis investigates the safety and efficacy of EVT-r and EVT-d in the management of VAD and ICAD.

METHODS

The literature was searched for all studies with consecutive patient series evaluating EVT-d or EVT-r for VAD or ICAD management. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared between EVT-r and EVT-d groups using the random-effect model and meta-regression approaches.

RESULTS

Overall, 1095 cases pooled from 56 studies were included. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between VAD and ICAD. EVT-r was applied in 647 cases (59.1%) and EVT-d in the rest There was no statistical difference in the rate of procedural complications between EVT-r and EVT-d. Although EVT-d was significantly associated with higher rates of complete aneurysm occlusion (86.4%), lower rates of good clinical outcomes (72.1%) and higher mortality (15.1%) were achieved compared to EVT-r (70.2%, 83.3%, and 9.5%; respectively). The mortality rate was higher, and good clinical outcomes were less common in ruptured aneurysms. Ischemic presentation was statistically associated with poor outcomes (mRS 3-5) but low mortality. ICAD often tended to grow following treatment and resulted in poor neurological outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

IAD has favorable outcomes when treated appropriately. Novel reconstructive endovascular techniques are promising and should be integrated well in endovascular practice. Further studies are warranted.

Clinical characteristics, endovascular choices, and surgical outcomes of intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms: a consecutive series of 196 patients

OBJECTIVE

The authors aimed to evaluate the clinical features, endovascular strategy selection, and outcomes of vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysms (VADAs) near the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA).

METHODS

Clinical data were obtained from 196 patients with 202 VADAs who had been surgically treated at the authors' hospital between 2005 and 2021. The patients' medical records, imaging data, and follow-up outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

All 196 patients (148 male, 48 female; mean age 53 years) underwent endovascular therapy for VADA. The most common chief complaints were headache (56.6%), dizziness (40.8%), and other occasional symptoms (18.4%). Twenty-six patients experienced posterior circulation ischemia, and 25 patients experienced subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). On DSA images, 37 aneurysms were found in the dominant VA, and 165 aneurysms were found on the nondominant side. Eighty-eight VADAs had stenosis. Regarding the VADA location, there were 59 distal, 51 proximal, 23 ventral, 64 PICA, and 5 obliteration types. Single-stent implantation (10.9%), overlapping stent implantation (23.8%), flow diverter (FD) implantation (11.9%), single stent-assisted coil (SAC) embolization (31.7%), overlapping SAC embolization (12.9%), parent artery occlusion (PAO) (8.4%), and FD-assisted coil embolization (0.5%) were chosen. The follow-up rate was 82.7%. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was 0.5 ± 1.1. Ninety-six patients underwent DSA. The complete occlusion rates were 100%, 81.4%, 56.7%, and 76.5% in the PAO group, SAC reconstruction group, stent implantation group, and FD implantation group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Young patients showed a higher probability of SAH, and elderly patients showed a higher probability of posterior circulation infarction. The surgical plan selection should be based on the SAH history, VA dominant side, and PICA origin location.

Interventional Distal Embolization before Corrective Cervical Spinal Surgery for Posttraumatic Vertebral Artery Occlusion: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Objective

A traumatic vertebral artery (VA) injury may result in serious cerebral infarction in the vertebrobasilar area. However, the approach to its diagnosis and the optimal treatment have not yet been established. We present a patient with traumatic occlusion of a unilateral VA due to the multiple cervical spine fractures who required decompression and fixation, in whom the injured VA was coil embolized distal to the occlusion prior to the cervical spine surgery.

Case Presentation

A 47-year-old woman was injured in a car accident and, presented with C6-C7 superior articular process fractures and C2-C3 ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with sensory hypoesthesia and motor palsy of the left upper limb. MRA showed left VA occlusion and patent contralateral VA. DSA showed left VA occlusion from the origin to C5/6 and its antegrade flow by collateral orthodromic circulation from the muscular branches. To prevent vertebrobasilar infarction due to migration of the thrombus from the occluded VA which was recanalized by surgical fixation, distal coil embolization of the injured VA by navigating a microcatheter through the contralateral VA across the vertebrobasilar junction was performed. Neither ischemic events nor new neurologic symptoms occurred during follow-up.

Conclusion

Preoperative coil embolization to a traumatic VA occlusion can be one of the therapeutic choices to prevent thromboembolic stroke after cervical spine surgery. When the proximal segment of the VA was injured and VA occluded from origin, this treatment strategy is feasible, safe, and effective.

Reconstructive vs Deconstructive Endovascular Approach to Intradural Vertebral Artery Aneurysms: A Multicenter Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Parent vessel sacrifice (PVS) has been a traditional way of treating complex aneurysms of the intradural vertebral artery (VA). Flow diversion (FD) has emerged as an alternative reconstructive option.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of intradural VA aneurysms following PVS or FD.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed and evaluated 43 consecutive patients between 2009 and 2018 with ruptured and unruptured intradural VA aneurysms treated by PVS or FD. Medical records including clinical and radiological details were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 43 intradural VA aneurysms were treated during this period. In the 14 PVS patients, the mean follow-up was 19.5 mo, and 71.4% of cases achieved modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤2 at the last follow-up. A total of 86.5% of cases achieved complete occlusion. There was a 14.3% (2 cases) mortality rate, 14.3% (2 cases) postoperative ischemic complication rate, and 0% postoperative hemorrhaging rate. Retreatment was required in 1 case (7.1%). In the 29 FD patients, the mean follow-up was 21.8 mo, and 89.7% of cases achieved mRS ≤2 at the final follow-up. There was a 3.2% (1 case) mortality rate, 19.4% (6 cases) of postoperative ischemic complications, and 6.5% (2 cases) of postoperative hemorrhagic complications. Complete occlusion was seen in 86.5% patients. No cases required retreatment. Mortality and complication rates were not significantly different between PVS and PED (Pipeline Embolization Device) groups.

CONCLUSION

PVS was associated with comparable intraprocedural complications for VA aneurysms as compared to FD in the largest multicenter study to date. Both procedures have good long-term clinical and radiological outcomes.

Endovascular treatment for ruptured vertebral dissecting aneurysms involving PICA: Reconstruction or deconstruction? Experience from 16 patients

OBJECTIVE

Ruptured vertebral dissecting aneurysms (VDAs) with posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) involved require an optimal method to isolate the dissection and prevent the symptomatic infraction. This study aims to present our experience with both parent artery occlusion (PAO) and stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and provide a favorable strategy to the management of ruptured VDAs with PICA involved.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage in our database from March 2013 to December 2018, suffering from dissecting aneurysms of the intradural vertebral arteries and endovascularly treated. A total of 16 cases with PICA involved were included. Basic information, aneurysm characteristics, procedure related complications and outcomes of patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

10 (62.5%) aneurysms were managed with PAO containing 3 proximal occlusion and 8 targeted-trapping preserved the PICA. 5 (31.3%) aneurysms were treated with SAC and one 6.3%) treated with vertebral artery to PICA stenting and trapping. Two (12.5%) patients died in the acute phase. Good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0 to 3) were observed in 13(81.5%) cases in 30 days follow-up. PICA territory infraction was happened in one patient without any dysfunction. Favorable occlusion was observed in 9 of 12 (75%) which were free of further treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with good contralateral circulation, PAO could be a first line management for ruptured VDAs with PICA involved. Targeted-trapping with either reserved PICA or proximal occlusion with moderate coiling in aneurysm are promising modalities to prevent severe PICA infraction.

Endovascular sacrifice of the proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery for treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Ruptured aneurysms of the intracranial vertebral artery (VA) or posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) are challenging to treat as they are often dissecting aneurysms necessitating direct sacrifice of the diseased segment, which is thought to carry high morbidity due to brainstem and cerebellar stroke. However, relatively few studies evaluating outcomes following VA or proximal PICA sacrifice exist. We sought to determine the efficacy and outcomes of endovascular VA/PICA sacrifice.

METHODS

A retrospective series of ruptured VA/PICA aneurysms treated by endovascular sacrifice of the VA (including the PICA origin) or proximal PICA is reviewed. Collected data included demographic, radiologic, clinical, and disability information.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients were identified. Median age was 57 years (IQR 11); 15 were female. The Hunt and Hess grade was mostly 3 and 4 (18/21). Seven cases (33%) involved VA-V4 at the PICA take-off, and 14 cases (67%) involved the PICA exclusively. For VA pathology, V4 was sacrificed in all cases, while for PICA pathology, sacrificed segments included anterior medullary (4/14), lateral medullary (7/14), and tonsillomedullary (3/14) segments. Four patients went to hospice (19%). Twelve patients (57%) had evidence of stroke on follow-up imaging: cerebellar (8), medullary (1), and both (3). One patient required suboccipital decompression for brainstem compression. No aneurysm re-rupture occurred. Median discharge modified Rankin Scale score was 2.0 (IQR 2), which decreased to 1.0 (IQR 1) at median follow-up of 6.5 months (IQR 23).

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular sacrifice of V4 or PICA aneurysms may carry less morbidity than previously thought, and is a viable alternative for poor surgical candidates or those with good collateral perfusion.

Segment Occlusion vs. Reconstruction-A Single Center Experience With Endovascular Strategies for Ruptured Vertebrobasilar Dissecting Aneurysms

Objective: Ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial vertebral arteries exhibit an extraordinarily high risk for morbidity and mortality and are prone to re-rupture. Therefore, early treatment is mandatory to induce stagnation of the critical dynamic mural process. Appropriate endovascular approaches are segment sacrifice and reconstruction, however, both carry specific risks and benefits. To date most studies discuss only one of these approaches and focus on one specific device or technique. Therefore, our study aimed to present our experiences with both techniques, providing a considered approach on when to perform endovascular reconstruction or sacrifice.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage in our database, suffering from dissecting aneurysms of the intradural vertebral arteries and treated endovascularly in the acute setting. A total of 16 cases were included. Clinical history, radiologic findings and outcomes were analyzed.

Results: In 7 patients a reconstructive approach was chosen with 4 of them receiving stent-assisted coiling as primary strategy. One of the 7 patients suffered early re-bleeding due to progression of the dissection and therefore treatment was augmented with implantation of 2 flow diverters. The remaining 2 patients were primarily treated with flow diverters in telescoping technique. In 9 patients a deconstructive approach was followed: 6 patients were treated with proximal coil-occlusion of the V4 segment, 3 patients received distal coiling of the V4 segment. Two patients died (GOS 1) in the subacute stage due to sequelae of recurrent episodes of raised intracranial pressure and parenchymal hemorrhage. Two patients kept severe disability (GOS 3), six patients had moderate disability (GOS 4) and seven patients showed full recovery (GOS 5). None of the patients suffered from a procedural or postprocedural ischemic stroke.

Conclusions: In patients with good collateral vascularization, proximal, or distal partial segment sacrifice via with endovascular coil occlusion seems to yield the best risk-benefit ratio for treatment of ruptured dissecting V4 aneurysms, especially since no continued anticoagulation is required and possibly essential surgery remains feasible in this scenario. If possible, PICA occlusion should be avoided—although even proximal PICA occlusion can become necessary, when weighing against the risk of an otherwise untreated ruptured V4 dissecting aneurysm. Contrarily, if the dominant V4 segment is affected, the hemodynamic asymmetry prohibits occlusion and necessitates reconstruction of the respective segment. For this, implants with high metal coverage treating the entire affected segment appear to be the most promising approach.

Dissecting aneurysm of vertebral artery involving the origin of posteroinferior cerebellar artery treated with retrograde stent placement and coil embolization in the era of flow diverter

Ruptured vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysm carries high risk of rerupture and mortality if not treated immediately. Dissecting aneurysm of the VA involving the posteroinferior cerebellar artery (PICA) origin is difficult to treat by surgical and endovascular route. With the availability of flow diversion device for reconstructive procedure, endovascular treatment has now become easy to treat difficult aneurysm while maintaining the patency of the PICA. However, instead of using flow diverter (FD) in our case, we successfully treated dissecting VA aneurysm involving the PICA origin with retrograde stent placement from distal right VA to the left PICA to maintain the patency of PICA and occlusion of dissecting aneurysm of VA with detachable coils instead of performing surgical bypass and FD placement.

The Use of Flow Diverter in Ruptured, Dissecting Intracranial Aneurysms of the Posterior Circulation

OBJECTIVE

Acute dissecting aneurysms of the posterior circulation are a rare cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Established endovascular treatment options include parent artery occlusion and stent-assisted coiling, but appear to be associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Vessel reconstruction with flow diverters is an alternative treatment option; however, its safety and efficacy in the acute stage remains unclear.

METHODS

This is a multicentric retrospective analysis of 15 consecutive acutely ruptured dissecting posterior circulation aneurysms treated with flow diverters. The primary end point was favorable aneurysm occlusion, defined as OKM C1-3 and D (O'Kelly Marotta scale). Secondary end points were procedure-related complications and clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Nine of 15 aneurysms (60%) arose from the intradural portion of the vertebral artery, 3 were located on the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and 1 each on the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, posterior cerebral artery, and basilar artery. Flow diverter placement was technically successful in 14 of 15 cases (93%). After endovascular treatment, none of the ruptured aneurysms rebled. Median clinical follow-up was 217 days and median angiographic follow-up was 203 days. Favorable occlusion was observed in 7 of 14 aneurysms (50%) directly after flow diverter placement; of those, 5 were completely occluded (36%). Seven patients (47%) with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage died in the acute phase. Favorable clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale ≤2) was observed in 4 of 15 patients (27%) and a moderate outcome (modified Rankin scale 3/4) was observed in 5 of 15 patients (33%). All aneurysms showed complete occlusion at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Flow diverters might be a feasible, alternative treatment option for acutely ruptured dissecting posterior circulation aneurysms and may effectively prevent rebleeding. Larger cohort studies are required to validate these results.

Endovascular Treatment of Symptomatic Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysms

Objective

Vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs) are rare and many debates are present about treatment options. We review types and efficacy of our endovascular treatments and establish a safe endovascular therapeutic strategy regard to the angio-architecture of VADAs.

Materials and Methods

Between July 2008 and October 2015, we treated 22 patients with symptomatic VADAs. Fifteen patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage from the ruptured VADAs, digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance image confirmed the diagnosis and endovascular treatments were followed as their angio-architecture.

Results

Clinical results were good in 13 patients (86.7%), and there were no technical problems during endovascular procedures. The other 2 patients with poor prognosis showed severe neurological deficits at the initial evaluation. Among the three different endovascular treatments, there were no radiologic cure in one patient with stent insertion alone, but the patient had no significant clinical symptoms either.

Conclusion

Endovascular treatments are safe and effective treatment option for managing VADAs and can be the first treatment of choice for most patients. To select proper endovascular treatment according to the angio-architecture of VADAs can reduce the risk of the treatment.

Flow-diverting stents allow efficient treatment of unruptured, intradural dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery: An explanatory approach using in vivo flow analysis

OBJECT

Our study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of flow-diverting stents (FDS) in treating unruptured, intradural dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery (VADAs). Additionally, the effect of FDS on the aneurysmal flow pattern was investigated by performing in vivo flow analysis using parametric color coding (PCC).

METHODS

We evaluated 11 patients with unruptured, intradural VADAs, treated with FDS. Pre- and postinterventional DSA-series were postprocessed by PCC, and time-density curves were calculated. The parameters aneurysmal inflow-velocity, outflow-velocity and relative time-to-peak (rTTP) were calculated. Pre- and postinterventional values were compared and correlated with the occlusion rate after six months.

RESULTS

Follow-up DSA detected 10 aneurysms occluded, meaning an occlusion rate of 91%. No procedure-related morbidity and mortality was found. Flow analyses revealed a significant reduction of aneurysmal inflow- velocity and prolongation of rTTP after FDS deployment. Concerning aneurysm occlusion, the postinterventional outflow-velocity turned out to be a marginally statistically significant predictor. A definite threshold value (-0.7 density change/s) could be determined for the outflow-velocity that allows prediction of complete aneurysm occlusion with high sensitivity and specificity (100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Using FDS can be considered an efficient and safe therapy option in treating unruptured, intradural VADA. From in vivo flow analyses the postinterventional aneurysmal outflow-velocity turned out to be a potential predictor for later complete aneurysm occlusion. Here, it might be possible to determine a threshold value that allows prediction of aneurysm occlusion with high specificity and sensitivity. As fast, applicable and easy-to-handle tool, PCC could be used for procedural monitoring and might contribute to further treatment optimization.

Endovascular Treatment of Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysms That Cause Subarachnoid Hemorrhage : Consideration of Therapeutic Approaches Relevant to the Angioarchitecture

Objective

Intracranial ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAns) are associated with high morbidity and mortality when left untreated due to the high likelihood of rebleeding. The present study aimed to establish an endovascular therapeutic strategy that focuses specifically on the angioarchitecture of ruptured VADAns.

Methods

Twenty-three patients with ruptured VADAn received endovascular treatment (EVT) over 7 years. The patient group included 14 women (60.9%) and 9 men (39.1%) between the ages of 39 and 72 years (mean age 54.2 years). Clinical data and radiologic findings were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Four patients had aneurysms on the dominant vertebral artery. Fourteen (61%) aneurysms were located distal to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). Six (26%) patients had an extracranial origin of the PICA on the ruptured VA, and 2 patients (9%) had bilateral VADAns. Eighteen patients (78%) were treated with internal coil trapping. Two patients (9%) required an adjunctive bypass procedure. Seven patients (30%) required stent-supported endovascular procedures. Two patients experienced intra-procedural rupture during EVT, one of which was associated with a focal medullary infarction. Two patients (9%) exhibited recanalization of the VADAn during follow-up, which required additional coiling. No recurrent hemorrhage was observed during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

EVT of ruptured VADAns based on angioarchitecture is a feasible and effective armamentarium to prevent fatal hemorrhage recurrence with an acceptable low risk of procedural complications. Clinical outcomes depend mainly on the pre-procedural clinical state of the patient. Radiologic follow-up is necessary to prevent hemorrhage recurrence after EVT.

Endovascular parent vessel sacrifice in ruptured dissecting vertebral and posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms: clinical outcomes and review of the literature

Background

Ruptured intracranial dissecting aneurysms must be secured quickly to prevent re-hemorrhage. Endovascular sacrifice of the diseased segment is a well-established treatment method, however postoperative outcomes of symptomatic stroke and re-hemorrhage rates are not well reported, particularly for the perforator-rich distal vertebral artery or proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed cases of ruptured distal vertebral artery or PICA dissecting aneurysms that underwent endovascular treatment. Diagnosis was based on the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage on initial CT imaging and of a dissecting aneurysm on catheter angiography. Patients with vertebral artery aneurysms were selected for coil embolization of the diseased arterial segment based on the adequacy of flow to the basilar artery from the contralateral vertebral artery. Patients with PICA aneurysms were generally treated only if they were poor surgical candidates. Outcomes included symptomatic and asymptomatic procedure-related cerebral infarction, recurrent aneurysm rupture, angiographic aneurysm recurrence, and estimated modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

Results

During the study period, 12 patients with dissecting aneurysms involving the distal vertebral artery (n=10) or PICA (n=2) were treated with endovascular sacrifice. Two patients suffered an ischemic infarction, one of whom was symptomatic (8.3%). One patient (8.3%) died prior to hospital discharge. No aneurysm recurrence was identified on follow-up imaging. Ten patients (83%) made a good recovery (mRS ≤2). Median clinical and imaging follow-up periods were 41.7 months (range 0–126.4 months) and 14.3 months (range 0.03–88.6 months), respectively.

Conclusions

In patients with good collateral circulation, endovascular sacrifice may be the preferred treatment for acutely ruptured dissecting aneurysms involving the distal vertebral artery.

Deconstructive and Reconstructive Techniques in Treatment of Vertebrobasilar Dissecting Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Various endovascular techniques have been applied to the treatment of vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms, including parent artery preservation with coiling, stent placement or flow diverter placement, and trapping and proximal occlusion. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to study clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular treatment of vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature search for studies on the endovascular treatment of vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. From each study we abstracted the following data: immediate occlusion, long-term occlusion, long-term good neurologic outcome, perioperative morbidity, perioperative mortality, rebleed (ruptured only), recurrence, and retreatment. We performed subgroup analyses of patients undergoing deconstructive-versus-reconstructive techniques. Meta-analysis was performed by using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies with 478 patients were included in this analysis. Sixteen studies had at least 6 months of clinical/angiographic follow-up. Endovascular treatment was associated with high rates of long-term occlusion (87.0%; 95% CI, 74.0%-94.0%) and low recurrence (7.0%; 95% CI, 5.0%-10.0%) and retreatment rates (3.0%; 95% CI, 2.0%-6.0%). Long-term good neurologic outcome was 84.0% (95% CI, 65.0%-94.0%). Deconstructive techniques were associated with higher rates of long-term complete occlusion compared with reconstructive techniques (88.0%; 95% CI, 35.0%-99.0% versus 81.0%; 95% CI, 64.0%-91.0%; P < .0001). Deconstructive and reconstructive techniques were both associated with high rates of good neurologic outcome (86.0%; 95% CI, 68.0%-95.0% versus 92.0%; 95% CI, 86.0%-95.0%; P = .10).

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular treatment of vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms is associated with high rates of complete occlusion and good long-term neurologic outcomes. Deconstructive techniques are associated with higher occlusion rates. There was no statistical difference in neurologic outcomes between groups, possibly due to low power.

Permanent endovascular balloon occlusion of the vertebral artery as an adjunct to the surgical resection of selected cervical spine tumors: A single center experience

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Complete surgical resection of cervical spine tumors is often challenging when there is tumor encasement of major neck vessels. Pre-operative endovascular sacrifice of the major vessels can facilitate safe tumor resection. The use of transarterial detachable coils has been described in this setting, but it can be time-consuming and costly to occlude a patent parent vessel using this method. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of our endovascular detachable balloon occlusion technique, performed without prior balloon test occlusion in the pre-operative management of these tumors.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 18 consecutive patients undergoing pre-operative unilateral permanent endovascular balloon occlusion of tumor-encased vertebral arteries in our institution. Procedure-related ischemic or thromboembolic complication was defined as focal neurologic deficit attributable to the endovascular occlusion which occurs before subsequent surgical resection.

RESULTS

Successful pre-operative endovascular vertebral artery sacrifice using detachable balloons was achieved in 100% (n = 18) of cases without prior balloon test occlusion. Procedural complication rate was 5.6% as one patient developed transient focal neurology secondary to a delayed cerebellar infarct at home on day 11 and subsequently made a full recovery. There were no cases of distal balloon migration. Complete macroscopic resection of tumor as reported by the operating surgeon was achieved in 89% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative endovascular sacrifice of the vertebral artery using detachable balloons and without prior balloon test occlusion is a safe procedure with low complication rates and good surgeon reported rates of total resection.

Safety of unilateral endovascular occlusion of the cervical segment of the vertebral artery without antecedent balloon test occlusion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Antecedent balloon test occlusion is often performed prior to vertebral artery sacrifice, but there is limited data to suggest this adds a significant clinical benefit, especially in the setting of trauma. Furthermore, balloon test occlusion can be time-consuming, add to the technical complexity of the procedure, and increase the overall cost of treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of unilateral vertebral artery occlusion without antecedent balloon test occlusion as part of the treatment regimen in patients with traumatic vertebral artery dissection, cervical tumor, or intracranial aneurysm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records and imaging studies of 59 patients in whom unilateral endovascular cervical vertebral artery occlusion was performed were retrospectively reviewed. Procedure-related stroke was defined as imaging evidence of acute infarct in the vascular territories supplied by the occluded vertebral artery or new focal neurologic deficit developing in the first 30 days after vertebral artery occlusion attributable to infarction in the posterior circulation.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients underwent unilateral endovascular cervical vertebral artery occlusion to prevent potential thromboembolic complications of vertebral artery injury, for treatment of intracranial aneurysms, or for presurgical embolization of a cervical vertebral tumor. Unilateral occlusion was performed when endovascular reconstruction was considered impossible or deemed more risky than deconstruction. Fifty-eight of the 59 patients underwent vertebral artery occlusion without antecedent balloon test occlusion. None of the 59 patients had clinical or imaging evidence of a postprocedural infarct.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, endovascular occlusion of a cervical segment of 1 vertebral artery was safely performed without antecedent balloon test occlusion. As long as both vertebral arteries were patent and converged at the vertebrobasilar junction, there was anatomic potential for retrograde filling of the distal intracranial vertebral artery to the level of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery origin, and there was no major vascular supply to the spinal cord arising from the target segment of the affected vessel. Dominant and nondominant vertebral arteries were safely occluded, and no infarcts were attributed to the treatment.

Flow-diverting stent for ruptured intracranial dissecting aneurysm of vertebral artery

BACKGROUND

The treatment of ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial vertebral artery (VA) with parent vessel preservation is a challenge for neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists.

OBJECTIVE

To propose an indication for flow-diverting treatment for reconstruction of a dissecting VA with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage.

METHODS

Two male patients transferred after acute subarachnoid hemorrhage and dissecting aneurysm on the V4 segment of the dominant VA. An occlusion test was not performed because of their poor clinical state. A flow-diverting stent represented by the Pipeline embolization device was suggested to both patients.

RESULTS

Three Pipeline embolization devices were deployed in each VA. One dissecting aneurysm was excluded immediately after 3 stents, and 1 patient had complete exclusion demonstrated at the 48-hour control. No morbidity directly related to the procedure was observed. No recanalization and no rebleeding occurred during the 3 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

A flow-diverting stent may be considered an option to treat ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the VA, providing remodeling of the parent vessel and complete exclusion of the aneurysm.

Management of posterior fossa dissecting aneurysms

SUMMARY

Treatment and prognosis of 14 patients of posterior fossa arterial dissections (AD) and dissecting aneurysms (DA) in one institution was reviewed. Internal trapping of aneurysm was performed for six patients presenting with SAH (three Vertebral, one posterior cerebral, one posterior inferior cerebellar, one anterior inferior cerebellar DA). The patency of the parent arteries was preserved in four DA patients with SAH (two Vertebral, two Basilar DA), 1 incidental vertebral DA, and one DA patient with brainstem infarction using stents and coils (four patients) or coils only (two patient). Proximal occlusion of parent artery was performed in a vertebral DA with SAH. One patient with a superior cerebellar DA presented with a midbrain infarct developed SAH with spontaneous occlusion of the aneurysm two weeks later. Of the 14 cases, ten were angiographically stable or cured during a follow up period of four to 70 months. one spontaneously resolved and two recurred. There was one death.