Transradial approach for endovascular diagnosis and treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysms: A descriptive study

Trans-radial spinal angiography: A single-center experience

INTRODUCTION

Spinal angiography (SpAn) is the gold standard for diagnosis of spinal dural fistulas and arteriovenous malformations. A complete spinal angiogram necessitates the interrogation of the segmental arteries arising from the aorta at every level as well, the internal iliac; and median sacral arteries at the caudal end; and the cervical vasculature at the cranial end. SpAn has traditionally been performed with transfemoral arterial access and could be challenging. Of late, transradial arterial access has emerged as a popular alternative for endovascular surgical Neuroradiology (ESN) procedures including SpAn. However, there is paucity of the literature regarding transradial access for spinal angiography.

METHODS

After IRB approval, records and imaging were reviewed in a series of patients who underwent SpAn at our institution.

RESULTS

A total of nine spinal angiograms were performed via transradial access in a consecutive series of eight patients between July 2019 and December 2020 at our institution. Eight of these were diagnostic SpAn's, and one patient underwent SpAn with transradial approach for the treatment of a type I spinal dural arteriovenous fistula. No complications occurred during or subsequent to the procedures.

CONCLUSION

SpAn can be successfully and safely accomplished via transradial access. This approach appears to provide a stable method for interventions, as well.

Transradial approach in neurointervention: Part-II: Diagnostic and therapeutic intervention

Recent studies and meta-analysis have shown the safety, feasibility, and success of the transradial approach in diagnostic and therapeutic neurointervention. This second part of the review focuses on the technical aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic neurointervention after the radial sheath has been placed.

Therapeutic Neurointervention through Transradial Approach: Preliminary Experience from a Tertiary Care Center

Aim The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of radial access for therapeutic neurointervention procedures.

Methods The retrospective evaluation of 20 patients taken for therapeutic neurointervention through transradial access at our institute was done from July 2021 to April 2022.

Results Therapeutic neurointervention procedures were attempted in 20 patients (age, 24–74 years; mean age, 48.4 years; 13 (65%) females using a transradial approach. The radial artery's mean diameter was 2.135 mm. The right radial access was taken in 18 (90%) cases. Indications for treatment were ruptured aneurysm in 13 (65%), mechanical thrombectomy in 5 (25%), flow diversion for a recanalized aneurysm in 1 (5%), and balloon occlusion test in 1 (5%) case. The procedure was successful through the transradial approach in 18 (90%) procedures. Failure was seen in two cases that were completed after conversion to the transfemoral approach. The reason for access conversion was a severe spasm in both cases. No significant access site complications were seen in the study cohort.

Conclusion A radial access route is a promising approach for therapeutic interventions with a high success rate and minimal access site complications. Interventionists should get accustomed to this approach as primary or alternative access for neurointervention.

Feasibility and Safety of Transradial Aneurysm Embolization: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Use of the transradial access (TRA) approach for neuroendovascular procedures has been increasing in recent years. Our aim is to assess the feasibility, success rate, and complications associated with TRA for intracranial aneurysm embolization.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were systematically searched for studies using TRA for intracranial aneurysm embolization. Random-effects models were used to obtain pooled rates of procedural success and complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies comprising 1283 (85.9%) TRA and 122 (8.2%) distal TRA aneurysm embolization procedures were included. The pooled success rate of the 18 studies in the meta-analysis was 93.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.1%-95.8%). The pooled thromboembolic complication rate was 0.5% (95% CI, 0.1%-0.9%), the hemorrhagic complication rate was 0.5% (95% CI, 0.1%-0.9%), and the access site complication rate was 0.8% (95% CI, 0.3%-1.3%). One study (4.3%) used exclusively a 7-French guide catheter, and most used a 6-French guide catheter (22 of 23 studies, 95.7%), which was further incorporated as part of a triaxial configuration through a sheathless 8-French system in 4 studies (17.4%), 7-French guide catheter in 2 studies (8.7%), and 8-French sheath in 1 study (4.3%). The embolization techniques used were flow diverter placement in 451 cases (39.1%), coiling in 376 (32.6%), stent-assisted coiling in 127 (11.0%), balloon-assisted coiling in 104 (9.0%), Woven EndoBridge system in 50 (4.3%), and flow diverter placement plus coiling in 42 (3.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Treating intracranial aneurysms using various embolization techniques through TRA is feasible and associated with low access site and intraoperative complications.

Initial Experience Using the Transradial Approach for Endovascular Treatment of Vascular Pathologies: Safety and Feasibility

Background  Endovascular treatment of vascular pathologies through the transradial approach has been increasingly used and has demonstrated a low rate of complications.

Objective  To report our initial experience in the endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular diseases with the transradial approach and to determine its safety and feasibility.

Methods  Consecutive patients who underwent the transradial approach for endovascular treatment of aneurysms and vascular malformations were reviewed at a single institution. Technical success, fluoroscopy time, and access-related complications were analyzed.

Results  Eight patients underwent endovascular treatment with the transradial approach. One arteriovenous fistula, one superficial temporal artery aneurysm, three arteriovenous malformations, and four aneurysms were treated successfully. The radial artery was successfully approached and a 6-F sheath was used in all the cases. Navigation of guiding catheters (5 and 6 F) was done without complications. The most commonly approached artery was the right internal carotid artery, followed by the right vertebral artery. Postoperative vasospasm was identified in three patients. Mean fluoroscopy time was 34.7 minutes. Conversion to transfemoral approach was not required. No postoperative complications were reported.

Conclusions  In our initial experience, the transradial approach is a safe and feasible alternative for the endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular pathologies.

Transradial quadraxial system for coil embolization of distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms: A radial-first center case series and literature review

PURPOSE

Endovascular treatment is technically challenging as distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms have distal location, small-caliber parent artery, and small size/wide neck. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of the transradial approach (TRA) with a radial-specific neurointerventional guiding sheath as the first-line technique for DACA aneurysms.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed an institutional database of consecutive patients with DACA aneurysm who underwent coil embolization using TRA. Ten consecutive patients were included in this study. After the radial-specific 6F Simmons guiding sheath (0.088″ inner diameter) was completely engaged into the target common carotid artery, a quadraxial system (6F Simmons guiding sheath/6F intermediate catheter/3.2F intermediate catheter/single microcatheter) was used for embolization. Then, we assessed for procedural success, angiographic outcomes, and procedure-related or vascular access site complications.

RESULTS

Embolization procedures were conducted using simple coiling in eight and stent-assisted coiling with the trans-cell approach in two patients. The embolization procedure was successful in all patients (n = 10). Moreover, none presented with catheter kinking, parent artery flow stagnation, or system instability during the procedure. Immediate postprocedural angiography revealed complete obliteration in six and residual neck in four patients. Then, eight patients underwent follow-up angiography at a mean of 7.1 months, and none developed recanalization or required retreatment. The postprocedural course was uneventful, and there were no complications.

CONCLUSION

The transradial quadraxial system had the ability to achieve sufficient stability and kink resistance in DACA aneurysm embolization. Thus, this method was feasible and safe and had a high success rate.

Transradial Approach to Cerebral Aneurysm Occlusion in a Patient with an Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Retroesophageal right subclavian artery, aberrant right subclavian artery, or lusoria artery constitutes an anatomical variation with a very low prevalence in the general population. Its presence in a patient does not add difficulty for cerebral arteries catheterization when a femoral approach is used, but may make the catheterization of cerebral vessels difficult when a right transradial approach is used. Unfortunately, this type of configuration of the artery is discovered after the decision to use the type of approach. CASE REPORT A 60-year-old woman with a diagnosed subarachnoid hemorrhage was studied with angiography through a transradial approach. A left carotid bifurcation aneurysm was diagnosed after three-vessel angiography was performed with a Simmons type 2 catheter, making a complete loop between the right subclavian artery, aortic arc, and left carotid artery. The ruptured cerebral aneurysm was completely occluded with 8 coils. The microcatheter used for the procedure emerged from the tip of an intermediate catheter located at the union of the vertical and horizontal segment of the petrous segment of the left carotid artery. CONCLUSIONS The presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery during cerebral angiography performed through a right transradial approach renders the treatment of a left carotid cerebral aneurysms more difficult but not impossible. Utilizing an appropriate intermediate catheter allows for stable navigation of the microcatheter and complete treatment of the aneurysm. This is the first report of cerebral aneurysm embolization through a right transradial approach in a patient with an aberrant right subclavian artery.

Utilization of the Ballast Long Guiding Sheath for Neuroendovascular Procedures: Institutional Experience in 68 Cases

Background: The rise of neurointerventional devices has created a demand for guide systems capable of navigating to the carotid artery consistently regardless of tortuosity. The shift toward large distal access catheters (DACs) and desire for greater trackability have inspired the creation of flexible, supportive, large-lumen long guiding sheaths. Recently, the Ballast long guiding sheath was introduced to provide stability and flexibility while navigating neurointerventional devices through tortuous intracranial anatomy.

Objective: To report our experience using the Ballast long guiding sheath in a series of patients undergoing a variety of neuroendovascular procedures.

Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients who underwent neuroendovascular treatment with a long guiding sheath were selected from a prospectively maintained endovascular database from January 2019 to November 2019. Baseline clinical characteristics and procedural details were collected.

Results: A total of 68 patients were included, mean patient age 67.6 ± 13.6 years. Of the patients treated, 52.9% (36/68) presented with stenosis, 25% (17/68) with aneurysms, 13.2% (9/68) with stroke or emboli, 1.5% (1/68) with a tumor, 1.5% (1/68) with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), and 4.4% (3/68) with a carotid web. Of the patients with stenosis, 20/36 (55.6%) were extracranial, and 16/36 (44.4%) were intracranial. The Ballast long guiding sheath was used to deliver treatment devices for stenting (37/68, 54.4%), flow diversion (12/68, 17.6%), mechanical thrombectomy (8/68, 11.8%), endovascular coiling (5/68, 7.4%), liquid embolization (3/68, 4.4%), balloon angioplasty (2/68, 2.9%), and balloon angioplasty with stenting (1/68, 1.5%). No Ballast-related complications or adverse events were encountered.

Conclusions: We demonstrate the feasibility of the Ballast long guiding sheath to successfully deliver modern neurointerventional treatment devices through tortuous anatomy.

Outpatient treatment of cerebral aneurysms: A case series

Background:

Major advances in the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms have reduced the incidence of intra- and postprocedural complications. The length of stay after treatment for incidental aneurysms remains between early next-day discharge and 2 days. We hypothesized that discharging patients the same day would not be associated with any increase in the rate of postdischarge adverse events.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who underwent an elective coiling procedure between 2015 and 2020 at three centers and were discharged from hospital on the same day as the procedure. Patients were clinically evaluated 6 h, 1 week, and 6 months after the procedure, with repeat cerebral angiography performed 1 year after the procedure.

Results:

Eleven eligible patients underwent outpatient treatment of 12 aneurysms treated through the wrist. No complications were identified within 1 week of the procedure. Clinical evaluation 6 months after treatment also failed to reveal any complication associated with the procedure. Only one of the seven patients who underwent 1 year angiography required retreatment.

Conclusion:

It is possible to safely perform coiled embolization of cerebral aneurysms in select outpatients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Transradial approach and its variations for neurointerventional procedures: Literature review

Background:

The transfemoral approach (TFA) has been the standard in neuroradiology over the years. However, the transradial approach (TRA) and its variants offer several benefits over the TFA.

Methods:

Review of the literature about TRA and its variations. We present our results for different neurointerventional procedures at our institution between January 2018 and December 2019.

Results:

We wrote an educational review describing anatomical and technical aspects, advantages, and complications of this approach. In the past year we increased the percentage of neurointerventional procedures performed through radial or ulnar arteries.

Conclusion:

There are clearly proven benefits of employing a wrist approach in patients for neurointerventional procedures and its utilization should especially be considered on a daily basis.

Distal radial approach for neurointerventional diagnosis and therapy

Background:

The transradial approach results in fewer complications at the puncture site, lower hospital costs, and greater comfort for patients. The distal transradial approach (dTRA) adds some benefits over the conventional radial approach. The objective is to describe initial experience with distal radial approach technique and the results obtained for neuroendovascular diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Methods:

Description of distal radial approach technique and obtained data from the first 3 months experience using this approach as the first choice for neuroendovascular procedures in two neuroendovascular centers.

Results:

Of the total of 94 procedures performed during 3 months, 67 were diagnostic and 27 were therapeutic. Eleven (16%) of the diagnostic procedures were performed through the dTRA. Of the 27 embolizations, eight (30%) were done using this approach. Every distal radial approach that was performed for diagnosis and therapeutics was successful.

Conclusion:

Puncture of the radial artery within the anatomical snuffbox is a radial approach variation option for diagnostic and therapeutic neuroendovascular procedures.