Single-stage extracranial carotid artery stenting and intracranial aneurysm coiling: technical feasibility and clinical outcome

Surgical Management of Ipsilateral Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis and Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm: Case Review and Treatment Considerations

Introduction  The coexistence of carotid artery stenosis and a concomitant downstream ipsilateral unruptured intracranial aneurysm requires unique treatment considerations to balance the risk of thromboembolic complications from carotid artery stenosis and the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage from intracranial aneurysm rupture. These considerations include the selection of optimal treatment modalities, the order and timing of interventions, and potential management of antiplatelet agents with endovascular approaches. We present strategies to optimize treatment in such a case. Case Report  We discuss the case of a 69-year-old woman with 90% stenosis of the right internal carotid artery and an ipsilateral, wide-necked, 4.8-mm, irregular-appearing right A1-2 junction aneurysm with an associated daughter sac. Open, endovascular, and mixed treatment strategies were considered. The patient selected and underwent a staged, open treatment approach with a carotid endarterectomy followed by a right craniotomy for microsurgical clipping of the aneurysm 5 days later. Both procedures were performed on daily full-dose aspirin without complications. On follow-up, the right carotid artery was widely patent, the aneurysm was secured, and the patient remained at her neurologic baseline. Discussion  The presented strategy for ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis and an unruptured intracranial aneurysm initially optimized cerebral perfusion to mitigate ischemic risks while permitting timely aneurysm intervention without a need for dual antiplatelet therapy or to traverse an earlier procedure site.

Single-Stage Endovascular Treatment of Severe Cranial Artery Stenosis Coexisted With Ipsilateral Distal Tandem Intracranial Aneurysm

Objective

The coexistence of severe cranial artery stenosis and ipsilateral distal tandem intracranial aneurysm is an unusual phenomenon. Currently, there is no consensus to provide treatment guidelines for concomitant lesions. This study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of single-stage endovascular treatment in patients under this special condition.

Methods

We illustrated a case series of 10 patients with the coexistence of severe cranial artery stenosis and ipsilateral distal tandem intracranial aneurysm in our hospital. And a systematic PubMed search of English-language literature published between 1990 and 2021 was carried out using the keywords: “(carotid OR vertebral OR subclavian artery stenosis) AND (aneurysm) AND (coincident OR coexist OR concomitant OR simultaneous OR ipsilateral).” Clinical information, including age, gender of the patients, as well as symptoms (artery stenosis or aneurysm), localization of artery stenosis and aneurysm, treatment, and outcome, were collected and analyzed.

Results

In the majority of the patients, symptoms were attributed to severe artery stenosis, and the coexisted lesions were located in the anterior circulation system. Most patients achieved an excellent clinical outcome, and no death was observed. No differences were found in a prognosis between single-stage or multiple-stage endovascular treatment.

Conclusions

A single-stage endovascular procedure is technically feasible and effective to treat the coexistence of severe cranial artery stenosis and ipsilateral distal tandem intracranial aneurysm in the anterior circulation as well as in the posterior circulation.

Persistent Primitive Hypoglossal Artery with Ipsilateral Symptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis and Cerebral Aneurysm

OBJECTIVE

Persistent primitive hypoglossal artery (PPHA) is a rare type of persistent carotid-basilar anastomosis sometimes associated with other vascular lesions. We treated an extremely rare case of PPHA with concomitant ipsilateral symptomatic cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and unruptured aneurysm.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 67-year-old woman visited our institution with acute onset of diplopia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple acute infarctions in the right anterior and posterior circulations. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated the right PPHA concomitant with ipsilateral cervical ICA stenosis and an unruptured ICA aneurysm with maximum diameter of 8 mm. The multiple infarctions were considered to result from artery-to-artery embolism due to microthrombi from the ICA plaque passed along the PPHA, so carotid endarterectomy was performed as the first step with preoperative modified Rankin Scale (mRS) grade 1. During the operation, the patient had impaired ICA perfusion due to internal shunt catheter migration into the PPHA followed by acute infarction in the right hemisphere causing mild left hemiparesis. The patient was transferred to the rehabilitation hospital with mRS grade 3. After 3 months of rehabilitation, the patient recovered to mRS grade 1 and clipping surgery for the unruptured right ICA aneurysm was performed as the second step with uneventful postoperative course.

CONCLUSION

The treatment strategy should be carefully considered depending on the specific blood circulation for such cases of PPHA with unique vasculature.

Hybrid Repair of a Common Carotid Pseudoaneurysm and Concomitant Internal Carotid Stenosis With Retrograde Stenting and Carotid Endarterectomy

This report aims to present a rare case of a common carotid artery (CCA) pseudoaneurysm with a concomitant internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis that were treated with a hybrid technique. This strategy included the retrograde placement of a CCA covered stent under ICA clamping followed by standardized carotid endarterectomy. The technique will be discussed and compared with other possible treatments.

[Treatment of patients with a cerebral arterial aneurysm and stenosis of the internal carotid artery]

AIM

The purpose of this study was to analyse the world literature dedicated to the problem concerning treatment of a combination of internal carotid artery stenosis at the extracranial level and an arterial aneurysm of the brain, as well as to demonstrate own results of surgical treatment of patients presenting with this concomitant pathology of the carotid basin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2013 to 2019, a clinical course of combined pathology of the basin of the internal carotid artery (an intracranial aneurysm and stenosis of the internal carotid artery at the extracranial level) was revealed in 35 of 1638 examined patients. There were ten men and 25 women, with a mean age of 66±7 years. In all the 35 patients, intracranial aneurysms appeared to be asymptomatic and were revealed during diagnosis of an atherosclerotic lesion of the internal carotid artery. Fifteen (43%) of the 35 patients were operated on. A two-stage surgical approach was used in 2 patients with ipsilateral location of the cerebral aneurysm and stenosis of the internal carotid artery: the first stage consisted in clipping of the arterial aneurysm, with stage 2 being carotid endarterectomy. A vascular stage alone (carotid endarterectomy or stenting of the internal carotid artery) was carried out in 9 patients, with a neurosurgical stage alone (clipping of the aneurysm) in 4 patients.

RESULTS

The incidence of internal carotid artery stenosis with an arterial cerebral aneurysm, according to our findings, amounted to 2.1%. In the group of surgical treatment, in 1 case (6.7%) after stenting of the symptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery a female patient with an ipsilateral asymptomatic aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery intraoperatively developed 'minor' ischaemic stroke. Neither perioperative aneurysmal ruptures nor lethal outcomes were observed in the group of patients subjected to surgical interventions.

CONCLUSION

An individual tactical approach to patients presenting with a combination of a cerebral aneurysm and internal carotid artery stenosis at the extracranial level made it possible at this stage of the work to avoid both intracranial haemorrhagic complications and lethal outcomes. The frequency of perioperative ischaemic cerebral events amounted to 6.7%. Further collection of the clinical material is needed to work out an optimal surgical policy in a combined lesion of the extra- and intracranial basin of the internal carotid artery.

Endovascular treatment of patient with multiple extracranial large vessel stenosis and coexistent unruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysm using a WEB device and Szabo-technique

The coexistence of severe extracranial large vessel stenosis and unruptured intracranial aneurysms is not rare. There are different treatment approaches for these conditions, such as initial treatment of the aneurysm before revascularization of the stenosis; single-stage endovascular treatment of both lesions; stenosis eliminating followed by treatment of the aneurysm, or without treating the aneurysm. But, taking into account the risk of aneurysm rupture on the one hand and the risk of ischemic stroke on the other, it is sometimes difficult to choose the right management strategy. Despite this fact, there are still no guidelines or consensus on the management of these coexistent lesions. The article describes a clinical case of endovascular treatment of multiple extracranial stenosis and coexistent unruptured wide-neck aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery. The endovascular treatment of the carotid stenosis and aneurysm using a woven endobridge device was performed in one session; endovascular treatment of vertebral artery stenosis with Szabo technique was performed in another session.

Three-Month Outcome of Carotid Artery Stenting in Patients with/without Coexistent Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

INTRODUCTION

Safety of carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients having carotid stenosis with coexistent unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is rarely reported. Thus, we studied the 3-month outcome of CAS in the presence of coexistent UIAs in our institution.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients receiving CAS at our institution from September 2011 to December 2019 was carried out. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: group of CAS with UIAs (CAS-UIA) and group of CAS without UIAs (CAS). The main complications within 3 months after stenting were TIA, ischemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), rupture of UIAs, and death. The baseline characteristics and complications of the 2 groups were compared.

RESULTS

Five hundred fifty-six patients (CAS, n = 468; CAS-UIA, n = 88) were included and 604 stenting procedures were performed. More patients had hypertension in the CAS-UIA group (87.5 vs. 73.7%, p = 0.006). There was no significant difference in TIAs, ischemic stroke, sICH, and death within 3 months after stenting between the CAS and CAS-UIA groups. None of the 113 coexistent UIAs detected in 88 patients had aneurysm rupture within 3 months after CAS.

CONCLUSIONS

In our large cohort of CAS patients, coexistent UIAs are not uncommon. Stenting of a carotid artery in the presence of coexistent UIAs could be conducted safely. Together with 3-month dual antiplatelet therapy, CAS did not increase the rupture risk of the coexistent UIAs within 3 months.

Tandem cervical carotid stenting for stenosis with flow diversion embolisation for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms

Background

An estimated 2%–3% of the population harbour an intracranial aneurysm. Concomitant atherosclerotic cervical carotid disease is not uncommon. The management of these two entities remains a challenge within the field.

Case presentation

We report a single case of concomitant carotid stenosis and two ipsilateral unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with a single-staged cervical carotid stenting and cerebral aneurysm embolisation with the Pipeline embolisation device.

Discussion

No consensus currently exists to guide endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms associated with asymptomatic ipsilateral stenosis. Here, we present a case of asymptomatic moderate carotid stenosis with two ipsilateral intracranial aneurysms and suggest carotid artery stenting takes procedural priority over aneurysm embolisation in single-stage treatment. The rationale for the sequence of neurointerventions is based on the tracking a robust distal access system beyond a stenotic proximal carotid lesion and stabilisation of the ulcerated plaque to avoid thromboembolic complications associated with plaque irritation during aneurysm embolisation. Additional cases and longer follow-up will be needed to further assess the efficacy of this technique.

A clinical study and meta-analysis of carotid stenosis with coexistent intracranial aneurysms

Carotid stenosis (CS) and intracranial aneurysms (IAs) may concur in one person. We studied the prevalence of IAs in CS patients in our retrospectively collected database and systematically reviewed this issue. Five hundred and fifty-seven CS (≥50%) patients confirmed by DSA in our hospital from 2010-06 to 2015-06 were screened for coexistent IAs. After searching the related literatures from English and Chinese journal literature databases, a meta-analysis was performed to pool the prevalence of CS with coexistent IAs. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the causes of heterogeneity among studies. IAs were detected in 98(17.0%) out of the 577 CS patients. 12 literatures and the present study including a total of 6965 CS patients and 446 cases with coexistent IAs. The pooled prevalence of CS with coexistent IAs was 6.3% (95%CI: 4.2-8.3%) in all the CS patients. The pooled RR for female to male CS patients to have coexistent IAs was 1.67 (95%CI: 1.34-2.08, P = 0.000). 3 studies and the present study were carried out in Asian countries with a pooled prevalence of 10.8% (95%CI: 5.3-16.3%); 6 studies in European countries with 3.0% (95%CI: 2.2-3.7%); and 3 studies in USA with 6.0% (95%CI: 2.2-9.7%). There was a statistically significant difference between the three subgroups (P < 0.001). The prevalence of IAs in CS patients seems higher in our clinical study and the meta-analysis than in the general population and previously reported. The eastern and the women CS patients have a higher risk for coexistent IAs.

[Diagnosis and treatment of extracranial internal carotid artery lesion combined with cerebrovascular malformation]

AIM

To analyze own experience of diagnosis and treatment of patients with extracranial internal carotid artery lesion and cerebrovascular malformations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 16 patients with combined lesion of extracranial and intracranial internal carotid artery for the period January 2013 - December 2014. Occlusive-stenotic lesion and tortuosity of ICA were observed in 11 and 5 cases respectively.

RESULTS

Incidence of combined ICA lesion was 5.2% (16 out of 308 observations of extracranial internal carotid artery lesion). Surgical treatment was performed in 7 patients including two-stage intervention in 4 cases and simultaneous surgery in 3 cases. Mean time between neurosurgical and vascular stages was 6 months. Complications and mortality were absent.

CONCLUSION

Two-stage surgical approach with intracerebral vascular malformation correction followed by extracranial ICA reconstruction may be safe and effective in patients with combined lesion of ICA. Further trials are necessary for certain conclusions.

Single-stage endovascular treatment in patients with severe extracranial large vessel stenosis and concomitant ipsilateral unruptured intracranial aneurysm

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of single-stage endovascular treatment in patients with severe extracranial large vessel stenosis and concomitant ipsilateral unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

METHODS

Hospital database was screened for patients who underwent single-stage endovascular treatment between February 2008 and June 2013 and seven patients were identified. The procedures included unilateral carotid artery stenting (CAS) (n=4), bilateral CAS (n=2), and proximal left subclavian artery stenting (n=1) along with ipsilateral intracranial aneurysm treatment (n=7). The mean internal carotid artery stenosis was 81.6% (range, 70%-95%), and the subclavian artery stenosis was 90%. All aneurysms were unruptured. The mean aneurysm diameter was 7.7 mm (range, 5-13 mm). The aneurysms were ipsilateral to the internal carotid artery stenosis (internal carotid artery aneurysm) in five patients, and in the anterior communicating artery in one patient. The patient with subclavian artery stenosis had a fenestration aneurysm in the proximal basilar artery. Stenting of the extracranial large vessel stenosis was performed before aneurysm treatment in all patients. In two patients who underwent bilateral CAS, the contralateral carotid artery stenosis, which had no aneurysm distally, was treated initially.

RESULTS

There were no procedure-related complications or technical failure. The mean clinical follow-up period was 18 months (range, 9-34 months). One patient who underwent unilateral CAS experienced contralateral transient ischemic attack during the clinical follow-up. There was no restenosis on six-month follow-up angiograms, and all aneurysms were adequately occluded.

CONCLUSION

A single-stage procedure appears to be feasible for treatment of patients with severe extracranial large vessel stenosis and concomitant ipsilateral intracranial aneurysm.

Simultaneous Endovascular Treatment of Tandem Internal Carotid Lesions

The incidence of concomitant extracranial carotid artery stenosis and ipsilateral intracranial carotid aneurysm has been reported to vary between 2.8% and 5%. These complex lesions may present a challenge for treatment decision-making. This case report describes an asymptomatic male patient with severe carotid bifurcation stenosis, coupled with an unruptured supraclinoid internal carotid aneurysm. Both lesions were treated simultaneously. Patient underwent carotid stenting followed by aneurysm coiling in the same setting without any complication.