Comparative outcomes of the treatment of unruptured paraophthalmic aneurysms in the era of flow diversion

BACKGROUND

Paraophthalmic aneurysms present a challenge to surgeons and their ideal management remains up for debate. We studied recent outcomes of these lesions in a single center.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing treatment for paraophthalmic aneurysms from 2017-2019 was performed. Factors including patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, treatment modality, radiographic treatment outcome, clinical outcome, and length of stay were collected, and bivariate analysis was performed.

RESULTS

In total 84.5% (82/97) of aneurysms were treated endovascularly and 15.5% (15/97) surgically. In the surgery cohort, there were three transient perioperative complications (20%) and one minor postoperative complication (6.7%). Complete aneurysm occlusion or near complete (<2mm residual) was achieved in 100% (15/15). All but one patient had mRS ≤1 at the last follow-up. In the endovascular group, 78.1% (64/82) underwent flow diversion alone. Endovascular treatment was associated with a 4.9% (4/82) rate of periprocedural complications: 3 transient events, and 1 death, and a 3.7% (3/82) rate of delayed complications: 2 transient vision changes, and one death. Rate of total occlusion was 87.8% (72/82). 76 patients (92.7%) had mRS ≤1 at the last follow-up. Length of stay was significantly shorter in the endovascular group (3.4 days vs. 7.0 days) [p < 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

This series demonstrates similar safety to previously reported series as well as the efficacy of both surgical clipping and endovascular embolization of paraophthalmic aneurysms. Rate of complications and treatment efficacy were similar in both groups although this represents a single institution series not generalizable to all centers.

EFFECTS OF THE ANEURYSM TREATMENT METHOD ON COIL PACKING DENSITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OSTIUM AREA

PURPOSE

To test the following hypotheses: (1) balloon or stent assistance increases coil packing density (CPD) in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms and (2) CPD is related to the ostium area and volume of the aneurysm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 60 ruptured and unruptured (54 and 6, respectively) aneurysms treated between August 2017 and December 2019 in the authors' institution with simple coiling (n=18), balloon-assisted coiling (n=7), or stent-assisted coiling (n=35). Aneurysm volume and ostium area measurements were obtained using commercial software from three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography images. Coil sizes were retrieved from patient files, and coil volume measurements were obtained using https://www.angiocalc.com/. Analysis of covariance, multivariable covariance analysis, and Pearson's correlation analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The median values for the aneurysm volume, coil volume, CPD, and ostium area were 63.4 (range 5.5-1771.4) mm³, 23.13 (2.03-296.95) mm³, 33.29% (13.41%-81.02%), and 10.7 (2.7-49.9) mm², respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the CPD values were not significantly different among the treatment groups, although the ostium area differed significantly between the simple and stent-assisted coiling groups (P<.05). Pearson's correlations showed that similar to aneurysm volume, the ostium area was negatively correlated with CPD (r=-0.321, P<.05).

CONCLUSION

In cerebral aneurysms treated with balloon- or stent-assisted coiling, the CPD value does not differ from that in aneurysms treated with simple coiling.

Safety and Long-Term Efficacy Outcomes for Endovascular Treatment of Wide-Neck Bifurcation Aneurysms of the Middle Cerebral Artery: Insights From the SMART Registry

Introduction

Wide-necked middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysms pose specific challenges to endovascular management. Surgical clipping remains the standard treatment approach for these aneurysms in many centers. While recent data suggests the endovascular treatment may be comparable, a prospective datapoint has been lacking.

Materials and Methods

The Penumbra SMART registry, a prospective, multi-center, single-arm outcomes registry of Penumbra coil-treated aneurysms, was queried for endovascularly treated MCA bifurcation aneurysms with wide necks (dome:neck ratio <2 or neck >4 mm). Safety and efficacy outcomes were summarized for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, including rupture, complication rate, and 1-year occlusion outcomes.

Results

Seventy-two aneurysms across 31 sites were enrolled. Of these, a total of 15 presented as ruptured aneurysms. Serious adverse events were reported in 21 (29.2%) of patients, with 8 (11.1%) attributed to the device/procedure. Immediately postoperatively, 75.0% of cases achieved “adequate” Raymond Roy Class I (40.3%) or II (34.7%) occlusion outcomes. Of the 72 patients treated, 60 (83.3%) underwent follow-up angiography at 1 year, and among these, 95.0% had 1-year occlusion outcomes of Raymond Roy Class I (71.7%) or II (23.3%). A total of 6 aneurysms (10.0%) were required or were planned for retreatment at the last follow-up.

Conclusion

This study represents the most significant prospective sample of endovascularly treated wide-neck MCA bifurcation aneurysms conducted to date. It supports the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of these aneurysms.

A Comparative Evaluation of Standard and Balloon-Assisted Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms Based on Neurophysiological Monitoring

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intracranial aneurysms are commonly treated with balloon-assisted endovascular coiling because the balloon allows for the control und modulation of wide-necked aneurysms and the coil basket. However, this approach might be associated with a higher complication rate. This retrospective study compared the multimodal results between balloon-assisted coiling of aneurysms (group 1) and coiling without balloon assistance (group 2).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included 67 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms in this retrospective analysis; acutely ruptured aneurysms were excluded from the analysis. We divided these patients into two groups and evaluated them for symptomatic thromboembolic complications in the course of intracranial aneurysm treatment. All patients had an intrainterventional neurophysiological monitoring (IINM) and a pre- and postinterventional NIH Stoke Scale (NIHSS) survey and MR imaging. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess whether balloon-assisted coiling increased the rate of thromboembolic complications. Periprocedural aneurysm hemorrhage did not occur in any of the cases.

RESULTS

We detected no statistically significant difference in rates of neurophysiological disturbances (19.5% (group 1) versus 34.6% (group 2); p = 0.249). There was no association with age, gender, or aneurysm location. The occurrence of new diffusion-weighted defects was not statistically significantly different (19.5% (group 1) versus 35.0% (group 2); p = 0.166). The difference in NIHSS before and after the intervention showed also no statistical significance in both groups (p = 0.426).

CONCLUSION

The use of balloon-assisted coiling did not increase the rate of neurological disturbances during endovascular coiling. MR imaging and NIHSS survey also showed no increased risk of embolization from balloon-assisted aneurysm coiling. IINM is a central aspect of care during endovascular coiling as it can substantially decrease morbidity.

The utility of dual-energy computed tomography angiography for the evaluation of brain aneurysms after endovascular coiling: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive alternatives to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for follow-up of patients with coiled aneurysms are sought.

PURPOSE

To compare a novel method of dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) for postoperative assessment of coiled brain aneurysms to detect aneurysm recanalization and patency of adjacent blood vessels, with DSA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients who underwent endovascular cerebral aneurysm coiling were prospectively evaluated postoperatively by both DE-CTA and conventional DSA. CTA was performed using a novel dual-energy method with single-source and fast kilovoltage switching. DSA was performed using biplanar cerebral angiography. An experienced neuroradiologist and neurosurgeon, both blinded to the original radiological results, reviewed the images.

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients (16 men, 38 women; mean age=47.6 + 9 years) with 55 coiled aneurysms were enrolled in our study between July 2014 and June 2015: 29 patients had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage and 26 patients had an incidentally found cerebral aneurysm. All patients had at least one DSA and DE-CTA performed at most one week apart. DE-CTA showed a 100% sensitivity and specificity in detection of complete aneurysm occlusion and 80% sensitivity and specificity for detection of residual necks and domes. DE-CTA successfully detected all vascular diameter changes as comparable to DSA with minimal interfering artifact.

CONCLUSION

DE-CTA is a promising non-invasive alternative to conventional catheter-based angiography for identification of aneurysm recurrence and assessment of adjacent arteries after endovascular coiling. It allows for far more rapid image acquisition than DSA, is non-invasive, and is widely available at clinical centers.

Stent deployment protocol for optimized real-time visualization during endovascular neurosurgery

Successful application of endovascular neurosurgery depends on high-quality imaging to define the pathology and the devices as they are being deployed. This is especially challenging in the treatment of complex cases, particularly in proximity to the skull base or in patients who have undergone prior endovascular treatment. The authors sought to optimize real-time image guidance using a simple algorithm that can be applied to any existing fluoroscopy system. Exposure management (exposure level, pulse management) and image post-processing parameters (edge enhancement) were modified from traditional fluoroscopy to improve visualization of device position and material density during deployment. Examples include the deployment of coils in small aneurysms, coils in giant aneurysms, the Pipeline embolization device (PED), the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device, and carotid artery stents. The authors report on the development of the protocol and their experience using representative cases. The stent deployment protocol is an image capture and post-processing algorithm that can be applied to existing fluoroscopy systems to improve real-time visualization of device deployment without hardware modifications. Improved image guidance facilitates aneurysm coil packing and proper positioning and deployment of carotid artery stents, flow diverters, and the WEB device, especially in the context of complex anatomy and an obscured field of view.

Safety of Abciximab injection during endovascular treatment of ruptured aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We aimed to determine the safety of intra-arterial Abciximab injection in the management of thromboembolic complications during endovascular treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

METHODS

In a monocentric consecutive series of endovascular treatment of 783 ruptured aneurysms, 42 (5.3%) patients received Abciximab after the aneurysm was secured. Bleeding complications were registered and dichotomized as follows: new intracranial hemorrhage and peripheral bleeding. For each patient, World Federation of Neurosurgery (WFNS) subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) grade, shunting, and clinical outcomes in the post-operative period and at 3-6 months were recorded.

RESULTS

SAH WFNS grades were as follows: grade I n = 14, grade II n = 10, grade III n = 11, grade IV n = 4, grade V n = 3. Ten patients had intracranial hematoma additionally to the SAH prior to embolization. Four patients (9.5%) presented more blood on the post-embolization CT but only one suffered a new clinically relevant intracranial hemorrhage. Two patients (4.8%) experienced significant peripheral bleeding but none were associated with long-term disabilities. Fourteen patients had a shunt installed less than 24 h prior to Abciximab injection and one less than 48 h later. At 3-6-month follow-up, 31 patients (74%) achieved a modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) of 2 or less, six patients (14%) had a mRS of 3-5, three were dead (7%), and two were lost at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

When the aneurysm is secured, intra-arterial Abciximab injection is a low complication rate treatment modality for thromboembolic events during embolization of cerebral ruptured aneurysm.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms by interventional neurologists: first year single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Endovascular embolization of ruptured intracranial aneurysms provides an adequate treatment and long-term results with less morbidity and mortality (M&M) compared with surgical treatment. Since the last decade more and more ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IA) undergo endovascular embolization in the United States. We present our experience of the initial one year periprocedural M&M at Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (PLFSM), Texas Tech Health Science Center (TTUHSC) in El Paso, Texas.

METHODS

Demographics, technical aspects of the endovascular procedure and clinical assessment, including several commonly used scales to assess the severity in case of subarachnoid hemorrhage were collected. Perioperative complications were classified as minor and major. All data is prospectively collected in a local database. Only endovascular treated aneurysms were included in the study.

RESULTS

During the first year of opening of the interventional neurology program at our school of medicine (March 2011 and March 2012), a total 45 ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms were treated with endovascular embolization. Two thirds of the patients (n = 27) presented with a ruptured IA. Within those with a ruptured aneurysm, the most median Hunt and Hess grade was 3. By large the vast majority of treated IA were in the anterior circulation and more than half measured 7-12 mm. Only three unruptured IA were <7 mm (average 5.5 mm). Complications occurred in seven patients (15%), four of them were minor without any clinical sequelae. The remaining three included; intracranial dissection and aneurysmal rupture resulting in both hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke and death in only one patient.

CONCLUSION

The first year experience of interventional neurology services at Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in El Paso, Texas demonstrates successful treatments with comparable national rates of morbidity and mortality.

ABBREVIATIONS

ACAAnterior cerebral arteryAcommAnterior communicating arteryESNEndovascular surgical neuroradiologyH&HHunt and Hess scaleIAIntracranial aneurysmICAInternal carotid arteryMCAMiddle cerebral arteryM&MMorbidity and mortalitySAHSubarachnoid hemorrhagePcommPosterior communicating arteryPLFSMPaul L. Foster School of MedicineTTUHSCTexas Tech University Health Science CenterVAVertebral artery.

Neuro-ophthalmic effects of stenting across the ophthalmic artery origin in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms

OBJECT.: The benefits of treating intracranial aneurysms in the region of the anterior visual pathways are well understood. However, the adverse effects of endovascular stenting across the ophthalmic artery have received little attention. The authors reviewed their experience with patients who had stents deployed across the ophthalmic artery origin.

METHODS

Patients' medical charts and imaging studies were reviewed to identify all patients with a non-flow diverting stent deployed over the ophthalmic artery origin for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. All patients with neuro-ophthalmic complaints were referred for formal ophthalmological evaluation.

RESULTS

A total of 104 consecutive patients with 106 aneurysms were identified to meet criteria for inclusion in the study cohort. Preoperatively, 30 patients (29%) described headache symptoms and 32 patients (31%) reported visual complaints. Of the patients with preoperative headaches, 15 (54%) of 28 patients for whom follow-up was available experienced improvement in their symptoms. Of the patients with preoperative visual complaints, improvement was noted in 11 (41%) of the 27 patients for whom follow-up was available, 9 (33%) of 27 patients reported no change in visual symptoms, and 7 (26%) of 27 patients reported progression of symptoms. Visual field defects developing posttreatment were noted to occur in 8 (7.7%) of 104 patients: 3 with immediate postoperative retinal infarcts, 1 with perioperative hemianopia that resolved by the time of discharge, 1 with a subjective visual field defect, 1 with subjective migratory visual field defects, and 2 with nonspecific visual symptoms. Compressive symptoms from aneurysm mass effect were noted in 6 patients preoperatively, with 4 of those patients experiencing persistent worsening, resolution in 1 case, and no change in 1 case. One patient developed a novel cranial nerve palsy from mass effect in the immediate postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

Deployment of stents across the ophthalmic artery origin for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms appears to be relatively safe with regard to visual outcomes. Neuro-ophthalmic complaint resolution rates were comparable to endovascular procedures that do not employ stents, with headache resolution rates comparable to coil-only aneurysm obliteration and low rates of retinal ischemic events. For patients presenting with mass effect, stent-assisted coiling appears to be less effective than microsurgery with decompression for relief of compressive symptoms.

Endovascular neurointervention success and complication rates in the first year of independent practice in a suburban hospital setup

CONTEXT

Endovascular neurointervention (interventional neuroradiology) is a highly demanding science requiring deep understanding of disease, anatomy, clinical skills and manual dexterity, consequently with a long learning curve and thus posing significant challenges to a physician entering new into the competitive arena.

AIM

To evaluate the procedural success, complications and outcome in the first year of independent endovascular neurointervention practice in a suburban hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of all diagnostic and therapeutic neurointerventional cases performed by the author between the period of January 02, 2012 and December 31, 2012.

RESULTS

A total of 61 procedures were performed. The performance success rate of the diagnostic procedures was 100% (38/38) and that of therapeutic procedures was 82.6% (19/23). The periprocedural complication rates were nil and 13%, respectively, for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The 3-month patient outcome for therapeutic procedures was good outcome (Modified Rankin Scale <2) in 87% cases (20/23), and poor outcome in 13% (2 dead and 1 debilitated with Modified Rankin Scale of 3).

CONCLUSION

For a well-trained endovascular neurointerventionalist, the first year of practice had high procedural success rate and acceptable complication with patient outcome rates comparable to the existing literature.