Limits of intermittent jugular bulb oxygen saturation monitoring in the management of severe head trauma patients

Effect of endovascular treatment on headache in elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The incidence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is increasing in the elderly population as life expectancy increases, and patients often present with headache. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of endovascular treatment on headache and identify factors associated with headache outcome in elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted for elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) being treated for unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Headache assessment was performed by a quantitative 11-point headache scale in all patients before and after endovascular treatment. Factors associated with headache outcome were investigated by univariate analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 72 patients (mean age, 70.0 years; age range, 65-80 years; 41 women) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 52 patients (72.2%) who presented with preoperative headache (headache score ≥ 1). Among them, 40 (76.9%) reported that headache score had an improvement according to their self-reported quantitative headache score after endovascular treatment. The average headache score was 5.63 preoperatively vs 2.50 postoperatively (P = .000). Twenty patients (27.8%) had no headache before treatment (headache score = 0), of whom 2 (10.0%) reported new onset of headache postoperatively. Only a preoperative headache score was associated with treatment outcome of headache, and a higher headache score predicted a lack of headache relief after endovascular treatment (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms resulted in relief of headache in most of the elderly patients. Preoperative headache score was the only statistically significant predictor of headache outcome.

Matrix² coils in embolization of intracranial aneurysms: 1-year outcome and comparison with bare platinum coil group in a single institution

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The endosaccular occlusion by using BPC has been useful in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, but its limited durability remains a deep-seated drawback. The Matrix² coil, one of the bioactive-coated coils, had been developed to improve this limited durability. To evaluate durability of Matrix² coils after embolization of intracranial aneurysms, we retrospectively compared 1-year outcomes with that of BPC groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A group of 121 aneurysms in 114 patients were embolized by using Matrix² coils between April 2006 and September 2008. The BPC group consisted of 151 aneurysms in 137 patients embolized by using BPCs alone between October 2007 and October 2008. The initial outcomes including packing densities, occlusion grades, and periprocedural complications, and the 1-year outcomes on MR angiography were retrospectively compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The Matrix² coil group and BPC group with similar baseline demographic characteristics revealed comparable initial outcomes. The rates of overall recurrence, major recanalization, and retreatment were 17.4%, 14.0%, and 10.7% versus 7.3%, 5.3%, and 4.6%, respectively (P = .066). However, the rates of subgroups with aneurysm volumes between 50 and 200 mm³ were 23.7%, 13.1%, and 10.5% versus 2.2%, 0%, and 0% (P = .022), respectively. The rates of subgroups with packing attenuation <30% were 38.3%, 31.9%, and 23.4% versus 13.3%, 11.7%, and 10% (P = .025), respectively. There were no differences in packing attenuation (P = .152), initial occlusion grade (P = .098), and 1-year outcomes (P = .209) according to the length of Matrix² coils used.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, initial and 1-year outcomes of the Matrix² coil group were comparable to those of the BPC group. However, in certain subgroups of aneurysm volume and packing attenuation, the 1-year durability of Matrix² coils was inferior to that of the BPC group.

Interval change in size of venous pouch canine bifurcation aneurysms over a 10-month period

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The natural history study of experimental aneurysms is important for the evaluation of new endovascular occlusion devices. Our purpose was to evaluate the natural history of experimental venous pouch bifurcation aneurysms in mongrel dogs up to a 10-month period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serial digital subtraction angiography was performed in 5 bifurcation aneurysms 1, 4, 7, and 10 months after surgical creation. Aneurysm dimensions, including height, width, and neck diameter, and animal body weights were measured. Comparisons of each parameter were performed using the Friedman test and the paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

Four of 5 aneurysms were patent during a 10-month follow-up period. One aneurysm was regarded as a partially thrombosed aneurysm at 1 month, though the extent of partial thrombosis lessened at 10 months. Bifurcation aneurysms progressively increased in size (aneurysm height, width, and neck diameter) during the first several months.

CONCLUSION

If this experimental model is used to evaluate new endovascular devices for cerebral aneurysm treatment, investigators should be aware of early progressive aneurysm enlargement.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with matrix detachable coils: midterm anatomic follow-up from a prospective multicenter registry

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Polyglycolic/polylactic acid-covered platinum coils have been proposed to reduce the rate of aneurysm recanalization after endovascular treatment. A prospective and multicenter registry was conducted in France to evaluate the safety and short-term and midterm efficacy of Matrix coils. This analysis focused on anatomic midterm results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred thirty-six patients harboring 244 ruptured or unruptured aneurysms treated via endovascular approach by using Matrix coils were included in this registry. Treatment was totally or partially performed by using Matrix coils. Anatomic results were evaluated on postoperative and last-follow-up digital subtraction angiography (DSA) by using the Raymond scale. "Recanalization" was defined as worsening, and "progressive thrombosis" was defined as improvement on the Raymond scale.

RESULTS

Anatomic midterm follow-up was obtained in 165 of 236 patients (70%) harboring 171 aneurysms (range, 6-27 months; mean, 14 +/- 4 months). At midterm follow-up angiography, 79 aneurysms were completely occluded (46.2%), 43 had a neck remnant (25.1%), and 49 had an aneurysm remnant (28.7%). Of 171 aneurysms, recanalization was observed in 44 patients (25.7%), including major recanalization in 18 patients (10.5%). Recanalization was more frequent if the embolized volume of aneurysm was </=25%. Progressive thrombosis was observed in 52 aneurysms (30%). No bleeding or rebleeding was observed during the period of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of Matrix coils in preventing recanalization was not demonstrated in our series. In agreement with previous studies using bare platinum coils, volumic occlusion was an important feature for the prediction of aneurysm recanalization. A high percentage of progressive thrombosis in incompletely treated aneurysms was observed in our series, suggesting a biologic activity of Matrix coils.