Intracranial angioplasty and stent placement for direct cerebral revascularization of nonacute intracranial occlusions and near occlusions

Clinical Study of Symptomatic Nonacute Intracranial Large Arterial Occlusion with Endovascular Recanalization

Objectives  This study reported a single-center clinical trial of endovascular treatment for symptomatic nonacute occlusion of the intracranial large artery (NA-ILAO). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and clinical effect of simple balloon dilatation and stent implantation. Methods  The patients diagnosed with symptomatic NA-ILAO were enrolled. A total of 40 cases were included in this study. While recanalization failed in 4 patients, it was successful in 36 patients, who were then divided into two groups for further analysis: balloon dilatation group ( n  = 24) and stent implantation group ( n  = 12). The perioperative complications, clinical outcome, and follow-up results were analyzed. Results  Perioperative complications in the stent implantation group were significantly higher than those in the simple balloon dilatation group ( p  < 0.05). There were 21 and 10 cases of 90-day good clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] ≤ 2) in the balloon and stent groups, respectively ( p  = 0.518). All patients with successful recanalization underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or CT angiography (CTA) during an average follow-up of 14 months. There were two cases of restenosis in the balloon dilatation group and one in the stent implantation group ( p  = 1.000). There were two cases of re-occlusion in the stent group and none in the balloon dilatation group ( p  < 0.001). Stroke recurred in two cases in the stent group and in one case in the simple balloon dilatation group ( p  = 0.013). Conclusion  Endovascular recanalization is safe and feasible for patients with symptomatic NA-ILAO. Compared with stent implantation, simple balloon dilation may be a better recanalization method, but larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm it.

Use of quantitative magnetic resonance angiography in patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis who undergo stenting: Presentation of three cases

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is an important cause of ischemic stroke. The etiology of stroke in patients with ICAD could be due to several mechanisms including hypoperfusion, artery-to-artery embolism, and plaque extension over small penetrating artery ostia. Management of symptomatic ICAD includes medical and endovascular management. Quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a technique that allows for non-invasive measurement of large vessel blood flow in the head and neck. Here, we describe procedural and clinical outcomes on three patients who presented with symptomatic ICAD and were treated with angioplasty and stenting. Quantitative MRA was used pre- and post- procedurally to assess the effects of stenting on the intracranial blood flow. Quantitative measures of intracranial blood flow may serve as an additional triage tool in the evaluation of patients with symptomatic ICAD.

What is meant by "TICI"?

BACKGROUND

In 2003, Higashida et al proposed the Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction scale to evaluate angiographic intracranial flow. Our aim is to review how subsequently published studies define TICI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the ISI Web of Knowledge and SciVerse Scopus databases to search for "TICI" and "thrombolysis in cerebral infarction" and for articles that cited the original TICI paper from January 2004 through May 2012. Articles were categorized according to their definition of the TICI categories, typically grades 0-4, with grade 2 (partial reperfusion) subdivided into 2a and 2b, and rate of contrast entry to the perfused area. In addition, we catalogued the type of redefinitions of TICI subcategory 2 and additions of new categories.

RESULTS

Of 236 articles screened, 74 were included. Eight (11%) explicitly followed the TICI scale as originally defined. Thirty-seven (50%) cited Higashida but did not define their scale. Fifteen (21%) used and explained modified scales. Thirteen (18%) used the term TICI, but did not define the scale and did not cite Higashida. Eighteen (24%) specified a 2a subcategory. Nine defined grade 2a as <67% filling, 6 defined it as <50%, and 3 did not offer a percentage. Two studies added a 2c subcategory. Fifty-two (70%) used a cutoff level to define "successful reperfusion." Of these, 65% used TICI ≥2, 33% used TICI ≥2b, and 2% used TICI = 3.

CONCLUSIONS

There is substantial variability in the definition and/or application of the TICI scale in the literature. This variability could considerably impact our understanding of results of revascularization studies.

Value of imaging lenticulostriate arteries before middle cerebral artery stenting for the prevention of perforator stroke

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we investigated whether pre-procedural imaging of LSAs would potentially be helpful for preventing LSAs from being covered.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the LSAs of 15 consecutive patients who underwent revascularization for symptomatic middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. All patients underwent two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography.

RESULTS

We found that 46.7 (7/15), 40 (6/15), and 13.3 % (2/15) of patients had stenotic lesions in the proximal, middle, and distal third of the M1 segment, respectively. There was a total of 32 LSAs that originated from the lesioned MCAs. Seven (21.9 %), 10 (31.3 %), 11 (34.4 %), and 4 (12.5 %) LSAs originated from the proximal third of the M1 segment, middle third of the M1 segment, distal third of the M1 segment, and starting segment of the superior M2 segment, respectively. Sixteen (76.2 %) of 22 LSAs in 13 patients were covered by stents. It would have been possible to avoid covering 43.8 % (7/16) of these LSAs with stents if they had been evaluated before stenting, and the stents had been accurately deployed. Among 16 LSAs which were covered by stent, only one (6.25 %) was occluded after coverage.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that evaluation of LSAs during MCA stenting would be potentially helpful for preventing LSAs from being covered and subsequently occluded by stents.

Endovascular treatment of symptomatic intracranial stenosis with the Wingspan stent system and Gateway PTA balloon: a multicenter series of 60 patients with acute and midterm results

Object

The limitations of the medical management of symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis (SIAS) have encouraged the development of new strategies, such as endovascular treatment. In this study, the authors report and analyze a series of 63 endovascular procedures in which the Wingspan stent system was used.

Methods

Data from 60 patients presenting with refractory SIAS, treated in 5 French neurointerventional centers between September 2006 and August 2009, were retrieved. An angiogram was systematically obtained 6 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. The clinical neurological status was assessed and reported using the modified Rankin scale at 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up visits.

Results

A total of 63 stenotic lesions was treated. The mean age of the patients was 65.3 years, and the mean diameter of the stenosis was 80.2%. Technical success was achieved in 95.2% of cases. The overall incidence of procedural complications was 20.6%, with a 4.8% rate of permanent postoperative morbidity and death. In-stent restenosis (ISR)/occlusion occurred in 11 cases (17.4%), of which 10 were asymptomatic and 9 were detected less than 1 year from the endovascular treatment. In 1 case, the patient presented with a recurrent transient ischemic attack and was treated again with angioplasty. The mean follow-up was 13.2 months.

Conclusions

Endovascular treatment of SIAS demonstrates a moderate risk of neurological complication. Nevertheless, considering the critical natural history of severe refractory lesions, this may be considered the first alternative in cases of failed medical therapy. Technical failure, residual stenosis, or in-stent restenosis did not lead to systematic recurrent stroke in this series, which suggests the importance of plaque stabilization and neoendothelialization.

Intracranial stenting of subacute symptomatic atherosclerotic occlusion versus stenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Limited data are available concerning the outcome of angioplasty/stenting for subacute atherosclerotic intracranial artery occlusion, which is often associated with progressive symptom development in the salvageable brain under ischemic threat due to poor collateral blood supply.

METHODS

Among 177 patients who underwent angioplasty and/or stenting for severe symptomatic intracranial steno-occlusion, 26 had subacute atherosclerotic intracranial artery occlusion. Outcome after stenting (N=22) was assessed according to procedural success (return of antegrade flow and residual stenosis<50%), adverse event (any stroke or death) rate, and restenosis (>50%) using weighted Cox proportional hazards regression in the overall cohort and in separate subgroups.

RESULTS

Successful recanalization was achieved in 95%. Three adverse events (13.6%) occurred among patients undergoing stenting for occlusion, including 2 major strokes and 1 nonprocedure-related death. Good outcome (modified Rankin Scale≤2) was achieved in 73%. In the overall cohort, no significant difference was observed between the occlusion and stenosis groups in terms of the risk of adverse events (hazard ratio for the occlusion group, 1.055; 95% CI, 0.29-3.90) or the risk of restenosis (hazard ratio for the occlusion group, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.19-7.72). A trend toward a higher rate of adverse events was observed in older age (>65 years), progressive worsening, balloon-expandable stent, and no history of a preprocedural P2Y12 assay.

CONCLUSIONS

In a cohort of patients undergoing angioplasty/stenting for subacute atherosclerotic intracranial artery occlusion, no significant difference in the rates of adverse events was observed. However, several factors, including age, tended to be associated with a higher event rate.

Endovascular Treatment of Symptomatic Intracranial Arterial Stenosis: Six-Year Experience in a Single-Center Series of 42 Consecutive Patients With Acute and Mid-Term Results

BACKGROUND:

The limitations of the medical management of symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis encourage the development of new therapeutic strategies such as intracranial stenting.

OBJECTIVE:

To report and analyze the results of a series of 42 patients treated with 3 different endovascular techniques: isolated angioplasty, balloon-expandable coronary stents, and the Wingspan self-expandable intracranial stent system.

METHODS:

Forty-two patients presenting with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis were treated with one of these techniques. Computed tomography angiography was performed 6 months after the procedure, and the clinical neurological statuses were categorized using the modified Rankin Scale and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.

RESULTS:

A total of 42 lesions were treated: 9 with isolated angioplasty, 14 with balloon-expandable coronary stents, and 19 with Wingspan self-expandable intracranial stents. The mean patient age was 62.9 years, and the mean arterial diameter stenosis was 73.9%. Technical success was achieved in 97.6% of the patients. The overall incidence of procedural complications was 21.4%, and the postoperative permanent morbidity/mortality rate was 7.1%. There were 3 cases of in-stent thrombosis (1 fatal) and 5 cases of asymptomatic restenosis (11.9%), 3 in the isolated angioplasty group and 2 in the Wingspan self-expandable intracranial stent group (mean follow-up 20.4 months). The rate of restenosis was higher in the angioplasty group (33%) than in the coronary (0%) and Wingspan stent (10.5%) groups.

CONCLUSION:

Endovascular treatment of symptomatic intracranial stenosis has significant overall morbidity and mortality rates. Nevertheless, the very critical natural history of severe refractory lesions and the relatively favorable postoperative evolution suggest that it should be considered the first alternative strategy in cases in which medical therapy has failed.