Endovascular Treatment In Patients Research Articles

C-reactive Protein, Free Fatty Acid, and Uric Acid as Predictors of Adverse Events after Endovascular Revascularization of Arterial Femoropopliteal Occlusion Lesions

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-procedure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), free fatty acid (FFA), and uric acid (UA) levels and post-procedure mortality and morbidity of endovascular revascularization of arterial femoropopliteal occlusion lesions. This was a retrospective review of clinical data retrieved from a prospectively held database in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A total of 71 Patients who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) for femoropopliteal occlusive disease between January 1, 2014 and November 1, 2017, were included in this study. Endpoints were defined as major adverse limb events (MALE; target vessel revascularization, amputation, or disease progression) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; stroke, myocardial infarction, or all-cause death) during the entire follow-up period. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate the relationship of elevated biomarker levels (hsCRP, FFA and UA, measured by immunoturbidimetry assay, enzymatic assay and enzymatic assay, respectively) to MALE and MACE outcomes. Seventy-one patients (72 limbs) with sufficient follow-up information were included in the analysis. The mean age was 69.7 ± 8.6 years; 21.1% were female. The Rutherford class of target limbs were ≥ 3. The median follow-up was 36 (range 18-59 months). Univariate analyses revealed that patients with elevated hsCRP levels had an increased risk of MALE (hazard ratio [HR], 2.682; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.281-5.617, P=0.009). High FFA levels were associated with an increased risk of MALE (HR, 2.658; 95% CI, 1.075-6.573; P=0.034). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that elevated hsCRP values (HR, 4.015; 95% CI, 1.628-10.551; P=0.003) and FFA value (HR, 3.034; 95% CI, 1.102-8.354; P=0.032) were both significantly associated with increased MALE. Elevated UA levels predicted MACE in the presence of confounders (HR, 11.446; 95% CI, 1.367-95.801 P=0.023). Pre-procedure hsCRP and FFA levels could serve as predictors of adverse events after EVT in patients with arterial femoropopliteal occlusive disease. The role of UA in MACE may warrant further investigation, because the correlation is not as powerful as the other two in the study.

Endovascular Treatment Versus Best Medical Management in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Strokes: A Propensity-Matched Analysis from the Attention Multicentre Registry

Background: Data regarding the comparative efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment (EVT) versus best medical management (BMM) in strokes due to acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) remains controversial. Methods: The present analysis was based on the ongoing prospective multicentre endovascular treatment for acute basilar artery occlusion (ATTENTION) registry in China. We performed a propensity score analysis matching patients treated with BMM with those treated with EVT on a 1:3 ratio. Qualifying patients had to present within 24 hours of estimated BAO. The primary clinical outcome was favourable functional outcome (modified Rankin Score 0-3) at 90 days. We also performed a sensitivity analysis within the inversed propensity of treatment weighting (IPTW) cohort. Findings: Our analytic sample comprised 2,134 patients recruited across 48 sites between 2017 and 2021, including 462 patients received BMM and 1,672 patients who received EVT. Age (median, 65), sex (male, 68%), baseline NIHSS score (median, 21), the proportions of favourable imaging profile (PC-ASPECTS ≥8: ~89%), intravenous alteplase use (~23%) and time from onset to admission (median ~ 333 minutes) were comparable across the PSM groups (n=443 in BMM group; n=1,329 in EVT group). Compared with BMM treated patients, there was a significantly higher rate of favourable outcome at 90 days among EVT patients (adjusted relative risk (1.37 [95% CI: 1.18 to 1.60], absolute risk difference 0.11 [95% CI: 0.06 to 0.15]). The mortality was significantly lower (adjusted relative risk (0.81 [95% CI: 0.72 to 0.91], absolute risk difference -0.09 [95% CI: -0.14 to -0.04]) in patients undergoing EVT. Results were generally consistent across the secondary endpoints. Similar associations were seen in the IPTW cohort. Interpretation: In this large, real-world study, EVT was associated with significantly better functional outcomes and survival at 90 days. Well-designed randomized studies comparing EVT with BMM in the acute BAO are needed. Clinical Trial Registration Details: ATTENTION is registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn; ChiCTR2000041117). Funding Information: ATTENTION was an independent, investigator-initiated registry, and no external support was received. Declaration of Interests: RGN reports consulting fees for advisory roles with Anaconda, Biogen, Cerenovus, Genentech, Hybernia, Imperative Care, Medtronic, Phenox, Philips, Prolong Pharmaceuticals, Stryker Neurovascular, Shanghai Wallaby, Synchron, and stock options for advisory roles with Astrocyte, Brainomix, Cerebrotech, Ceretrieve, Corindus Vascular Robotics, Vesalio, Viz-AI, RapidPulse and Perfuze. RGN is one of the Principal Investigators of the “Endovascular Therapy for Low NIHSS Ischemic Strokes (ENDOLOW)” trial. Funding for this project is provided by Cerenovus. RGN is an investor in Viz-AI, Perfuze, Cerebrotech, Reist/Q’Apel Medical, Truvic, and Viseon. Other authors have no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the ethical committee of the first affiliated hospital of university of science and technology of China. All patients or their legally authorized representatives provided signed informed consent.

Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion: A Comparison of Arteriosclerotic, Embolic and Tandem Lesions.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to intracranial atherosclerosis-related basilar artery occlusion (ICAS-related BAO) by comparison with embolic and tandem occlusion. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with AIS due to BAO who underwent EVT. Patients were assigned to the ICAS-related group and embolic group, and tandem group based on the etiology. Baseline data, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were compared between the three groups. A total of 100 patients (ICAS-related group: 31; embolic group: 41; tandem group: 28) were included. No significant difference was observed in the successful reperfusion (mTICI 2b or 3), but the procedural time differed significantly (60min vs. 43min vs. 60min, P = 0.010). There were no differences in the different intracranial hemorrhage grades among the three groups (P = 0.134). After adjusting for baseline differences, there was no significant difference in pairwise comparisons regarding favorable outcome (mRS 0-2), moderate outcome (mRS 0-3), and mortality. Endovascular treatment for patients with acute ICAS-related BAO had equal efficacy and safety compared with embolic BAO and tandem BAO. Primary endovascular treatment and rescue modalities were effective treatments for acute ICAS-related BAO.

Abstract 1122‐000086: Comparison of Surgical Clipping vs Endovascular Coiling for Posterior Projecting Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm

Introduction : We wanted to evaluate the feasibility and results of endovascular treatment in patients with a posteriorly projecting A Com aneurysm and compare surgical clipping with endovascular coiling for posterior projecting anterior communicating artery aneurysm in terms of peroperative technical feasibility and possible complications such as rupture,perioperative complications and postoperative mortality and morbidity. Methods : .Total 6 cases were studied,3 of them (n = 3, 50%)were operated by surgical clipping and 3 (n = 3.50%) underwent endovascular coiling.Average age was 52yrs, 90% were hypertensive, 80% were smokers. All presented through emergency with subarachnoid hemorrhage.2 of the patients in each surgical and endovascular group presented at ER with Hunt and Hess grade 3 (n = 2,33.3%) the others were at Hunt and Hess grade 2 (n = 4,66.6%). The average time from hemorrhage to surgery and coiling was 25days. Outcome assessed using modified Rankin score and a score of 2 was considered satisfactory. Results : In the surgically treated arm 2 patients had mRS of 2 while the 3 rd one had 4.In the endovascular coiling group 1 had mRS of 1,1 had mRS2 and 3 rd had m RS of 3. Despite the very small sample size the outcome in terms of mRS indicated slightly better results for patients undergoing coiling Conclusion: Endovascular coiling is better in the treatment of posteriorly projecting anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Conclusions : Endovascular coiling is better in the treatment of posteriorly projecting anterior communicating artery aneurysm.

Perceived Limits of Endovascular Treatment for Secondary Medium-Vessel-Occlusion Stroke.

Thrombus embolization during mechanical thrombectomy occurs in up to 9% of cases, making secondary medium vessel occlusions of particular interest to neurointerventionalists. We sought to gain insight into the current endovascular treatment approaches for secondary medium vessel occlusion stroke in an international case-based survey because there are currently no clear recommendations for endovascular treatment in these patients. Survey participants were presented with 3 cases involving secondary medium vessel occlusions, each consisting of 3 case vignettes with changes in the patient's neurologic status (improvement, no change, unable to assess). Multivariable logistic regression analyses clustered by the respondent's identity were used to assess factors influencing the decision to treat. In total, 366 physicians (56 women, 308 men, 2 undisclosed) from 44 countries provided 3294 responses to 9 scenarios. Most (54.1%, 1782/3294) were in favor of endovascular treatment. Participants were more likely to treat occlusions in the anterior M2/3 (74.3%; risk ratio = 2.62; 95% CI, 2.27-3.03) or A3 (59.7%; risk ratio = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.83-2.42) segment compared with the M3/4 segment (28.3%; reference). Physicians were less likely to pursue endovascular treatment in patients who showed neurologic improvement than in patients with an unchanged neurologic deficit (49.9% versus 57.0% responses in favor of endovascular treatment, respectively; risk ratio = 0.88, 95% CI, 0.83-0.92). Interventionalists and more experienced physicians were more likely to treat secondary medium vessel occlusions. Physicians' willingness to treat secondary medium vessel occlusions endovascularly is limited and varies per occlusion location and change in neurologic status. More evidence on the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for secondary medium vessel occlusion stroke is needed.

Development and assessment of machine learning models for predicting recurrence risk after endovascular treatment in patients with intracranial aneurysms.

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) remain a major public health concern and endovascular treatment (EVT) has become a major tool for managing IAs. However, the recurrence rate of IAs after EVT is relatively high, which may lead to the risk for aneurysm re-rupture and re-bleed. Thus, we aimed to develop and assess prediction models based on machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict recurrence risk among patients with IAs after EVT in 6months. Patient population included patients with IAs after EVT between January 2016 and August 2019 in Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, and an adaptive synthetic (ADASYN) sampling approach was applied for the entire imbalanced dataset. We developed five ML models and assessed the models. In addition, we used SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and local interpretable model-agnostic explanation (LIME) algorithms to determine the importance of the selected features and interpret the ML models. A total of 425 IAs were enrolled into this study, and 66 (15.5%) of which recurred in 6months. Among the five ML models, gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model performed best. The area under curve (AUC) of the GBDT model on the testing set was 0.842 (sensitivity: 81.2%; specificity: 70.4%). Our study firstly demonstrated that ML-based models can serve as a reliable tool for predicting recurrence risk in patients with IAs after EVT in 6months, and the GBDT model showed the optimal prediction performance.

Predictors of Functional Outcome and Mortality in Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion: A Single-Centre Experience.

Background and Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify prognostic factors of endovascular treatment in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion and add evidence about the efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment for acute basilar artery occlusion.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the data of 101 patients with acute basilar artery occlusion receiving endovascular treatment from January 2013 to September 2019. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. A favourable functional outcome was defined as a mRS of 0 to 2 assessed at the 3 month follow-up. The association of clinical and procedural characteristics with the functional outcome and mortality was assessed.Results: The study population consisted of 101 patients: 83 males and 18 females. Successful recanalization was achieved in 99 patients (97.1%). A favourable clinical outcome was observed in 50 patients (49.5%), and the overall mortality rate was 26.7%. A favourable outcome was significantly associated with NIHSS score at admission and lung infection. Mortality was associated with NIHSS score at admission, the number of thrombectomy device passes, the postoperative pons-midbrain index, and diabetes mellitus.Conclusions: This study suggested that NIHSS score at admission, the number of thrombectomy device passes, the postoperative pons-midbrain index, diabetes mellitus, and lung infection can predict the functional outcome and mortality. These initial results add evidence about the efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment for acute basilar artery occlusion and need to be confirmed by further prospective studies.

Secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events in patients with “asymptomatic” atherosclerotic stenosis of the vertebral arteries

Abstract Aim To determine the feasibility of performing endovascular interventions in patients with “asymptomatic” atherosclerotic stenosis of the vertebral arteries, as a method of secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events. Material and methods The patients were randomized into 2 groups: in group I (n=78), secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events were carried out in a combined strategy - stenting of the vertebral arteries in combination with medication therapy, and in group II (n=78) - only medication therapy. Group I were randomized in 2 subgroups – Ia and Ib. In subgroup Ia (n=39) – endovascular intervention were performed with embolism protection devices, and in subgroup Ib (n=35) - embolism protection devices were not used. Long-term follow-up was planned after 12, 24 and 36 months. Inclusion criteria: “asymptomatic” stenosis of vertebral arteries 50–95%; the diameter of the vertebral arteries is not less than 3.0 and not more than 5 mm; the presence of not gross cerebral and focal symptoms corresponding to the initial (asymptomatic) stage of encephalopathy (according to E.V. Schmidt). Primary endpoint: total frequency of cerebrovascular events. Results The total incidence of spasm and dissection during endovascular intervention was 20.5% in subgroup Ia and 2.5% in subgroup Ib (p=0.0367). Also in subgroup Ia, 2 (4.5%) patients had transient ischemic attack. In subgroup Ib, perioperative cerebrovascular events was not observed. The total frequency of major cerebral complications over 36 months of follow-up was 4.5% in group 1 and 37.5% in group II (χ2=15.101; p<0.0001). The frequency of cardiac events was 9.1 and 19.6%, respectively, to groups I and II (χ2=14.784; p<0.0001). These indicators were obtained against the background of high patient adherence to treatment and high rates of achieving tough target lipid values. Restenosis of the stents was observed in general, in 18% of patients from group I, who underwent stenting of the vertebral arteries by various generations of stents. Moreover, restenosis alone did not affect the incidence of major cerebral complications in the long-term period (χ2=0.1643; p=0.735). Conclusion In spite of the development of restenosis, it is endovascular intervention in combination with drug therapy that helps to avoid the development of large cerebrovascular events arising from the instability of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with “asymptomatic” vertebral artery stenosis and is a reliable method of secondary prevention of of cerebrovascular events. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Russian academic excellence project 5-100

Secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events in patients with “asymptomatic” atherosclerotic stenosis of the vertebral arteries and unfavorable prognostic factors of chronic cerebral ischemia

Abstract Aim To evaluate the three-year results of endovascular interventions in patients with “asymptomatic” atherosclerotic stenosis of the vertebral arteries as a method of secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events. Material and methods The patients were randomized into 2 groups: in group I (n=60), secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events were carried out in a combined strategy - stenting of the vertebral arteries in combination with medication therapy, and in group II (n=60) - only medication therapy. Long-term follow-up were planned in 12, 24 and 36 months. Inclusion criteria: patients with “asymptomatic” stenosis of the vertebral arteries 50–95%; the diameter of the vertebral arteries is not less than 3.0 and not more than 5 mm; the presence of not gross cerebral and focal symptoms corresponding to the initial (asymptomatic) stage of encephalopathy (according to E.V. Schmidt); the presence of at least one factor for an unfavorable prognosis of chronic cerebral ischemia: arrhythmia, total cholesterol level more than 6.0 mmol / l, open Willis circle, arterial hypertension, bilateral lesion of the vertebral arteries, low-density lipoprotein level more than 3.5 mmol / l, combined lesion of the vertebral and carotid arteries, calcification of the vertebral arteries, a coronary heart disease in anamnesis. Primary endpoints: the total incidence of cardiovascular events. Results In all patients from group I, stenting of the vertebral arteries was performed without the use of embolic protection devices. The total incidence of major cerebral complications by the end of the study was 5.9% in group I and 25.0% in group II (χ2=4.825; p=0.023). In group I by the end of the study, the total incidence of stroke was 2.9%, and in group II it reached 30.5%. The total frequency of transient ischemic attack was 5.8 and 8.3%, respectively (χ2=4.135; p=0.042). The incidence of cardiac complications was 8.8 and 27.8%, respectively, in groups I and II (χ2=4.154; p=0.042). The survival rate, free from major cerebral complications, as well as cardiac complications, was significantly higher in patients who received combined treatment (vertebral artery stenting in combination with drug therapy). The survival rate of patients from group I, free from restenosis, was 94.12±4.03%. In general, restenosis in 6.45% of patients in the combination treatment group, however, restenosis itself did not affect the incidence of major cerebral complications in the long-term period (χ2=0.6911; p=0.4057). Conclusion In patients with “assymptomatic” atherosclerotic lesions of the vertebral arteries and with factors of poor prognosis of cerebral artery diseases, secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events is advisable to carry out a combined method, including stenting of the vertebral arteries, in combination with drug therapy. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Russian academic excellence project 5-100

Safety and outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients with very severe acute ischemic stroke.

Patients with anterior circulation ischemic strokes due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) and very severe neurological deficits (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score > 25) were under-represented in clinical trials on endovascular treatment (EVT). We aimed to evaluate safety and outcomes of EVT in patients with very severe vs. severe (NIHSS score 15-25) neurological deficits. We included consecutive patients undergoing EVT for AIS-LVO between January 2015 and December 2019 at Lille University Hospital. We compared rates of parenchymal hemorrhage (PH), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH), procedural complications, and 90-day mortality between patients with very severe vs. severe neurological deficit using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Functional outcome (90-days modified Rankin Scale) was compared between groups using ordinal logistic regression analysis. Among 1484 patients treated with EVT, 108 (7%) had pre-treatment NIHSS scores > 25, 873 (59%) with NIHSS scores 15-25 and 503 (34%) with NIHSS scores < 15. Rates of PH, SICH, successful recanalization, and procedural complications were similar in patients with NIHSS scores > 25 and NIHSS 15-25. Patients with NIHSS > 25 had a lower likelihood of improved functional outcome (adjcommon OR 0.31[95% CI 0.21-0.47]) and higher odds of mortality at 90days (adjOR 2.3 [95% CI 1.5-3.7]) compared to patients with NIHSS 15-25. Successful recanalization was associated with better functional outcome (adjcommon OR 3.8 [95% CI 1.4-10.4]), and lower odds of mortality (adjOR 0.3 [95% CI 0.1-0.9]) in patients with very severe stroke. The therapeutic effect of recanalization on functional outcome and mortality was similar in both groups. In patients with very severe neurological deficit, EVT was safe and successful recanalization was strongly associated with better functional outcome at 90days.

Surgeon-modified Stentgrafts für komplexe Aortenrekonstruktionen – was ist möglich?

The close anatomical relationship to the visceral vessels renders the treatment of complex throacoabdominal aortic pathologies challenging. In emergent cases, off-the-shelf stent grafts and parallel techniques are feasible treatment options. Alternatively, the treating surgeon can alter a conventional stent graft, creating a so-called surgeon-modified stent graft (SMSG) to adapt it to the complex aortic pathology. The aim of this publication is to present the possibilities and results of this method. The location of SMSG's fenestrations can be determined after manual measurements of the centerline of flow reconstructions of the aortic computed tomography-angiography. The planning of the SMSG can be simplified and standardized by creating personalized 3D aortic models, and by using algorithms for the automated determination of the ideal fenestration positions. Most approved stent grafts can be used as platforms for SMSG. Different manufacturing techniques have been described. In addition to simple fenestrations, mini-cuffs, directional branches, and inner branches are used. Furthermore, diameter reducing ties and preloaded catheters could facilitate the implantation. The treatment of complex aortic pathologies using SMSG has achieved good results, with high technical success rate of 90-100%, and low 30-day mortality, especially when compared to open surgical treatment of similar patients. The rate of endoleak of 0-14% was also acceptable. Long-term durability results after treatment with SMSG are not yet available. Surgeon-modified stent grafts are safe and feasible for the endovascular treatment of patients with urgent complex thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. They represent compassionate use and show promising results in the published literature.

Endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke in patients with versus without atrial fibrillation: a matched-control study

Background and objectiveThe effect of atrial fibrillation (AF) on outcomes of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association of AF with outcomes after EVT in AIS patients.MethodsSubjects were selected from ANGEL-ACT registry (Endovascular Treatment Key Technique and Emergency Work Flow Improvement of Acute Ischemic Stroke) - a prospective consecutive cohort of AIS patients undergoing EVT at 111 hospitals in China between November 2017 and March 2019, and then grouped according to having a history of AF or not. After 1:1 propensity score matching, the outcome measures including the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, successful recanalization after final attempt, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) within 24 h, and death within 90 days were compared.ResultsA total of 1755 patients, 550 with AF and 1205 without AF, were included. Among 407 pairs of patients identified after matching, no significant differences were found in the mRS score (median: 3 vs. 3 points; P = 0.29), successful recanalization (87.2 vs. 85.3%; P = 0.42), symptomatic ICH (9. 4 vs. 9.1%; P = 0.86) and death (16.3 vs. 18.4%; P = 0.44) between patients with and without AF.ConclusionThe findings of this matched-control study show comparable outcomes of EVT in Chinese AIS patients with and without AF, which do not support withholding EVT in patients with both AIS and AF.Trial registrationNCT03370939First registration date: 28/09/2017First posted date: 13/12/2017

A Prospective Study to Investigate Controlling Blood Pressure Under Transcranial Doppler After Endovascular Treatment in Patients With Occlusion of Anterior Circulation.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of blood pressure (BP) management with transcranial Doppler (TCD) guidance in patients with large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) on the long-term prognosis.Methods: This was a prospective study; 232 patients were nonrandomized assigned to TCD-guided BP management (TBM) group or non-TCD-guided BP management (NBM) group. In the TBM group, BP was controlled according to TCD showing cerebral blood flow fluctuation. In the NBM group, BP was controlled according to the guidelines. The primary endpoint was a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 2 or lower at 90 days. The safety outcomes were the rates of symptomatic or any intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and mortality at 90 days.Results: One hundred sixty-three patients were assigned to the TBM group, and 69 were assigned to the NBM group. In the propensity score-matched cohort (65 matches in both groups), there was significant difference in the proportion of participants with mRS 0–2 at 90 days according to BP management (adjusted odds ratio 3.34, 95% CI 1.36 to 8.22). There was no difference in the rates of symptomatic or any ICH and mortality between two groups. In inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment analysis, mortality decreased significantly in the TBM group than in the NBM group (adjusted odds ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.76–0.99, p = 0.03).Conclusion: In patients with acute ischemic stroke from large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation, BP management under TCD was superior to NBM in improving the clinical outcomes at 90 days.Clinical Trial Registration: (URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=55484; Identifier: ChiCTR2000034443.

Complications of X-ray Endovascular Interventions in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease with Reduced Left Ventricular Systolic Function

The work is dedicated to the research of direct results and immediate possible complications of interventions in X-ray surgery with coronary stent implantation. Our patients with chronic coronary syndrome and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 40% were studied. The study included 112 patients who were divided into two groups. The first group included 51 patients with LVEF &lt;40% (mean value 32.8 ± 1.14%), the second group involved 61 patients with LVEF &gt;40% (mean value 59.4 ± 1.02%). The mean age of the subjects ranged from 59 to 74 years (mean value 63.85 ± 1.73 years).&#x0D; There were no gender-related differences among the selected patients. There was no statistical difference in comorbidities in both groups. Both groups of patients were examined and managed according to the protocol of diagnosis and treatment adopted at the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery for patients suffering from chronic coronary syndrome.&#x0D; The study results show that patients with coronary artery disease and reduced LVEF 2 times more often developed complications in early postoperative period after PCI with revascularization through stent placement than in group of patients with preserved contractile myocardial function. Duration of PCI procedure and contrast agent use was 26.3±1.4% and 29.8±4.2% higher, respectively; the frequency of life-threatening arrhythmias was 54% higher. Intraoperational signs of acute heart failure developed 4.8 times less often in the control group than in the experimental group. In general, all the patients after stenting achieved good anti-ischemic effect.

Effects of Anterior Borderzone Angle Grading on Predicting the 90-Day Prognosis After Recanalization of Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion.

Objective: This work explores collateral circulation metrics, such as the anterior borderzone angle grading (ABZA-grading), as a predictor of the prognosis in patients with acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) following endovascular treatment (EVT).Methods: Clinical data from 108 patients with acute MCAO, treated by EVT, were retrospectively analyzed. In patients with MCAO, ABZA is the angle between the median line of the sagittal sinus and the borderzone of the pial arterioles of ACA and MCA, and the ABZA/23.0° was rounded to obtain the corresponding collateral circulation score (ABZA-grading). In parallel, the primary outcome was defined as the 90-day clinical outcome by modified ranking scale score (mRS). Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the independent predictors of the 90-day clinical outcome (mRS). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to judge the predictive value of ABZA.Results: Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis showed that ABZA-grading > 2 and age were independent predictors of the 90-day clinical outcome after EVT in patients with acute MCAO. The ROC analysis showed that ABZA alone could predict a favorable 90-day clinical outcome with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.868. Using an ABZA of >57.8° (the corresponding ABZA-grading of >2) as the cut-off value, the predictive sensitivity and specificity were 75.7 and 88.7%, respectively. Contingency table analysis showed a statistical difference in mRS score between ABZA-grading subgroups, and ABZA-grading between stroke caused by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and cardiogenic embolism (CE).Conclusion: The ABZA-grading is an easy and objective assessment of collateral circulation that is independently associated with short-time clinical outcome after EVT in patients with acute MCAO. Therefore, it may guide selection of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) suitable for EVT. The ABZA-grading of collateral circulation can be a supplemental metric to help differentiate stroke by LAA and CE.

ВЛИЯНИЕ РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ОПЕРАТИВНЫХ ВМЕШАТЕЛЬСТВ НА ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ АПОПТОЗА СОСУДИСТОЙ СТЕНКИ У ПАЦИЕНТОВ С АТЕРОСКЛЕРОЗОМ ПЕРИФЕРИЧЕСКИХ АРТЕРИЙ

Objective. Assessment of apoptosis proteins Bcl-2 and Bax indices before and after the open vascular reconstructions and X-ray endovascular interventions in patients with the peripheral atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities. Methods. The study included patients (n=40) with the peripheral atherosclerosis of the lower extremities arteries (stage III-IV) disease who underwent open surgery - group A, and patients (n=40) who underwent endovascular interventions - group B. Two apoptosis proteins were analyzed in blood serum: Bax and Bcl-2 initially before surgery, on the 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; day and after 1 month. The reference values of the studied parameters were determined in 40 healthy volunteers. Results. Initial Bax protein index - 27.1 ng / ml (р&lt;0,001) were elevated in patients of group A and reduced Bax protein - 4.4 ng / ml (p=0.00008) in patients of group B compared with indices of healthy volunteers (16.5 ng / ml, 5.3 ng / ml, respectively). On the 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; day after the interventions in the patients of the operative groups there was an increasing tendency for Bax index to 35.6 ng / ml (p&lt;0.001) - group A, to 25.6 ng/ml (p&lt;0.001) - group B. By the end of 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; month, Bax was increased to 28 ng/ml (p&lt;0.001) in patients of group A and Bcl-2 was reduced to 3.0 ng / ml (p=0.039) compared to the initial indices; in patients of group B, only protein Bax - 23.9 ng / ml (p&lt;0.001) was increased. Conclusion. Open and endovascular intervention on the arteries of the lower extremities leads to the activation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax on the 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; day after surgery. In the postoperative period the open reconstruction leads to an evaluation of the pro-apoptotic potential in comparison with endovascular intervention in the form of increasing Bax protein and reducing Bcl-2 by the end of the first month. What this paper adds The dynamics of changes markers Bcl-2 and Bax in apoptosis at different periods after surgery has been firstly studied in patients with atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries (stage III-IV) of the lower extremities. It has been found that the open surgery leads to a sufficient evaluation of the proapoptotic potential, i.e. the increasing Bax protein index on the 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; day and by the end of 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; month with reducing Bcl-2 index by the end of 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; month compared with the endovascular intervention.

Endovascular treatment of medullary bridging vein-draining dural arteriovenous fistulas: foramen magnum vs. craniocervical junction lesions.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) draining to medullary bridging vein (MBV) are located at foramen magnum (FM) and craniocervical junction (CCJ). Such fistulas are rare but pose a challenge to endovascular management. This study was undertaken to assess clinical manifestations, angiographic features, and outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients with MBV dural AVFs. A number of our patients (N = 22) were diagnosed with MBV dural AVF and treated by endovascular means. There were 9 FM lesions and 13 CCJ lesions. We reviewed clinical records and imaging studies to define clinical characteristics, vascular anatomic details, and treatment outcomes, comparing FM- and CCJ-level subsets. Subjects ranged from 37 to 74years of age (mean, 57.7years) with male predominance (2.7:1). They presented with intracranial hemorrhage (11/22, 50%), myelopathy (8/22, 36%), or nonspecific symptoms (3/22, 14%). In 17 patients (77.3%), the shunts showed complete or near-complete occlusion following endovascular treatment (FM, 100%; CCJ, 61.5%). However, seven patients experienced ischemic events (FM, 11.1%; CCJ, 46.2%) and one patient sustained a hemorrhagic complication. No hemorrhages recurred during follow-up monitoring, and myelopathic symptoms abated. MBV dural AVFs are highly aggressive lesions for which proper diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance. Although transarterial embolization proved highly successful in FM lesions, shunt occlusion was less frequent in the CCJ subset, with greater risk of ischemic complications.

Patient-Relevant Deficits Dictate Endovascular Thrombectomy Decision-Making in Patients with Low NIHSS Scores with Medium-Vessel Occlusion Stroke.

There is a paucity of evidence regarding the safety of endovascular treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to primary medium-vessel occlusion. The aim of this study was to examine the willingness among stroke physicians to perform endovascular treatment in patients with mild-yet-disabling deficits due to medium-vessel occlusion. In an international cross-sectional survey consisting of 7 primary medium-vessel occlusion case scenarios, participants were asked whether the presence of personally disabling deficits would influence their decision-making for endovascular treatment despite the patients having low NIHSS scores (<6). Decision rates were calculated on the basis of physician characteristics. Univariable logistic regression clustered by respondent and scenario identity was performed. Three hundred sixty-six participants from 44 countries provided 2562 answers to the 7 medium-vessel occlusion scenarios included in this study. In scenarios in which the deficit was relevant to the patient's profession, 56.9% of respondents opted to perform immediate endovascular treatment compared with 41.0% when no information regarding the patient's profession was provided (risk ratio = 1.39, P < .001). The largest effect sizes were seen for female participants (risk ratio = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.35-2.09), participants older than 60 years of age (risk ratio = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.23-2.10), those with more experience in neurointervention (risk ratio = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.24-2.06), and those who personally performed >100 endovascular treatments per year (risk ratio = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.22-2.17). The presence of a patient-relevant deficit in low-NIHSS acute ischemic stroke due to medium-vessel occlusion is an important factor for endovascular treatment decision-making. This may have relevance for the conduct and interpretation of low-NIHSS endovascular treatment in randomized trials.

Towards a better understanding of the posttreatment hemodynamic behaviors in femoropopliteal arteries through personalized computational models based on OCT images

The hemodynamic behavior following endovascular treatment of patients with peripheral arterial disease plays a significant role on the occurrence of restenosis in femoro-popliteal (FP) arteries. The atheroprone flow conditions that are generally accepted to promote restenosis can be calculated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses, and these results can be used to assess individualized treatment outcomes. However, the impact of endovascular therapy on the flow behaviors of FP arteries are still poorly understood, as the imaging modalities used in existing numerical works (X-ray angiography, computed tomography angiography) are unable to accurately represent the post-treatment arterial geometry due to their low resolutions. Therefore, this study proposes a new algorithm that combines intra-arterial lumen geometry obtained from high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) images with centerlines generated from X-ray images to reconstruct the FP artery with an in-plane resolution of 10 µm. This superior accuracy allows modeling characteristic geometrical structures, such as angioplasty-induced arterial dissections, that are too small to be reconstructed with other imaging modalities. The framework is applied on the clinical data of patients treated either with only-percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (n = 4) or PTA followed by stenting (n = 4). Based on the generated models, PTA was found to cause numerous arterial dissections, covering approximately 10% of the total surface area of the lumen, whereas no dissections were identified in the stented arteries. CFD simulations were performed to investigate the hemodynamic conditions before and after treatment. Regardless of the treatment method, the areas affected by low time-averaged wall shear stress (< 0.5 Pa) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) following endovascular therapy (pre-PTA: 0.95 ± 0.59 cm2; post-PTA: 2.10 ± 1.09cm2; post-stent: 3.10 ± 0.98 cm2). There were no statistical differences between the PTA and the stent groups. However, within the PTA group, adverse hemodynamics were mainly concentrated at regions created by arterial dissections, which may negatively impact the outcomes of a leave-nothing-behind strategy. These observations show that OCT-based numerical models have great potential to guide clinicians regarding the optimal treatment approach.

Outcomes of endovascular treatment of patients with intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal disease

ObjectiveOur objective was to evaluate the outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients with moderate and severe claudication due to femoropopliteal disease, that is, disease of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries.MethodsA retrospective review of all patients with moderate and severe claudication (Rutherford 2 and 3) undergoing endovascular treatment for FP disease between January 2012 and December 2017 at two university-affiliated hospitals was performed. All procedures were performed by vascular surgeons. Primary outcomes were mortality, freedom from reintervention, major adverse limb events defined as major amputations, open surgical revascularization, or progression to chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) at 30 days, 1 year, 2 years, and last follow-up. Unadjusted odds ratios were calculated to identify variables associated with adverse outcomes, and Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to determine mortality and freedom from reintervention.ResultsEighty-five limbs in 74 patients were identified on review. Mean age was 69.6 ± 9.8 years and 74.3% were males. At a median follow-up of 49.0 ± 25.5 months, all-cause mortality rate was 8.1% (6 patients) with 16.7% being due to cardiovascular causes. Reintervention rates were 1.2%, 16.5%, and 21.2% at 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively. Major adverse limb events occurred in 3 patients and rates were 0%, 1.2%, and 2.4% at 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively. Progression to CLTI was 0%, 1.2%, and 1.2% at 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively. Claudication had improved or resolved in 55.6% (n = 34 patients), stable in 38.9% (n = 21 patients), and worse in 5.6% (n = 3 patients) Age ≥ 70 years (OR = 4.09 (1.14–14.66), p = 0.027), TASCII A lesion (OR = 4.67 (1.14–19.17), p = 0.025), and presence of 3-vessel runoff (OR = 3.70 (1.18–11.59), p = 0.022) predicted symptoms’ improvement. TASCII A lesions were less likely to require reintervention (OR = 0.23 (0.06–0.86), p = 0.020). Reintervention within 1 year (OR = 11.67 (0.98–138.94), p = 0.017), reintervention with a stent (OR = 14.40 (1.19–173.67), p = 0.008) and more than one reintervention (OR = 39.00 (2.89–526.28), p < 0.001) predicted major adverse limb events.ConclusionsCareful patient selection is important when planning endovascular treatment in patients with intermittent claudication and FP disease. This could result in symptomatic improvement in more than half of the patients. Adverse outcomes such as major adverse limb events, progression to CLTI, and amputations occur at low rates.