Intracranial Endovascular Procedures Research Articles

De novo headache in ischemic stroke patients treated with thrombectomy: a prospective study

Background and aimHeadache attributed to intracranial endovascular procedures is described in the ICHD-3. Our aim was to study the frequency and characteristics of headache specifically related to thrombectomy in patients with ischemic stroke.MethodsProspective evaluation of clinical features of headache after thrombectomy using an ad hoc questionnaire.ResultsOne hundred seventeen patients were included (52.1% females). Most had an anterior circulation artery occlusion (91.5%). 93 (79.5%) received general anaesthesia. 111 (94.9%) required stent retriever, 21 (24.4%) angioplasty and 19 (16.2%) aspiration thrombectomy. 31 (26.5%; 95% CI 18.8–35.5%) had headache related to thrombectomy, and it was associated with a history of primary headache (p = 0.004). No differences about sex, initial NIHSS score, or the type or complexity of the procedure were observed. Headache was usually moderate and oppressive, ipsilateral to the artery occlusion and usually lasted less than 48 hours.ConclusionsAlmost one-third of patients with ischemic stroke who undergo endovascular thrombectomy experience headache in the first 24 hours, occurring more frequently in patients who had a previous history of headaches regardless of the procedure complexity.

In Hospital Outcome of CEA And CAS in the German National Carotid Registry 2014-2015

Introduction - The German National Quality Assurance Registry includes the datasets of all procedures (CEA and CAS) performed in German hospitals. The in-hospital outcome is reported by a questionnaire and finally evaluated and monitored by a federal institution (IQTIG) with the assistance of a clinical advisory board. It is the aim of this presentation to report the outcome of CEA vs. CAS as well as of simultaneous procedures combined with cardiac surgery or intracranial endovascular procedures. Methods - Data were collected at discharge on a electronic basis and primarily transferred to local state agencies (n=11) for plausibility check and monitoring. The data sets from 11 agencies were then anonymously compiled and evaluated by a federal institute (IQTIG). The quality of the registry is checked on a yearly basis by random sample analysis of individual charts. Data collection is linked to reimbursement of the procedure. The reports from 2014 and 2015 include the data sets from n= 64.868patients. 12.156 CAS (18,7%) and n=52.712 CEA (81,3%) were performed. 2,3% of CEA and 8,4% of the CAS procedures were special indications, including interventions prior to intracranial interventional procedures or other indications. Emergency procedures were included in the registry (7,44% CEA, 16,98% CAS). Results - 654[KM1] hospitals performed CEA and/or CAS in 2014 and with 648 in 2015). 282 (2015) / 297 (2014)hospitals reported <20 cases CEAs[KM2] per year (51,9% (2015) / 53,1% (2014)). 293 (2015) /280 (2014) hospitals reported < 20 CAS procedures 87,2% (2015) / 85,9% (2014)) The rates of preoperative neurological examination was 68,6% ( CEA) and 79,3% ( CAS, the postoperative rates were 58,2% (CEA) and 71,7% ( CAS). The results for stroke and death were below the AHA limit of 3% for asymptomatic carotid stenosis in both groups, with stroke/death rates of 1.76[KM3] % (2014) and 1.58% (2015) for CAS and 1.12% resp. 1.45% for CEA. In the case of contralateral stenosis the results were: 1.40% resp. 2.77% for CAS and 2.64% resp. 1.61% for CEA. In symptomatic stenosis, stroke/death rates for CAS were 3,5% (2014) and 3.91% (2015). CEA resulted in stroke/death rates of 2.35% resp.2.55%. The ratio observed/expected for severe stroke and death rose from 1.00 to 1.41 in the case of CAS, with values for 1.0 and 1.03 for CEA (2014 vs. 2015). Conclusion - The percentage of CAS (18% ) in the population did not change in the last two years. Both methods resulted in acceptable results for treatment of asymptomatic stenosis on a national scale. Risk adjustement was done to make individual hospitals comparable. There were differences in indications: CAS was more often used in acute stroke and in combination with intracranial procedures. CEA was also performed in combination with ACBG; the results of simultaneous ACBG and CEA were poor and reached unacceptable high stroke/death rates. The interpretation of these registry data is somewhat limited due to missing follow-up data as well as due to the fact the the data sets were pooled, and therefore a detailed statistical comparison was not possible.

Neurointerventional Radiology for the Aspiring Radiology Resident: Current State of the Field and Future Directions.

The purposes of this study were to document recent trends in stroke intervention at a tertiary-care facility with a comprehensive stroke center and to analyze current procedure volumes and the employment of specialty providers in neurointerventional radiology (NIR). Institutional trends in the volume of mechanical thrombectomy were analyzed on the basis of the number of patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy from 2013 to 2017. To evaluate the current status of mechanical thrombectomy volumes in the United States, the number of patients in the Medicare fee-for-service database who underwent mechanical thrombectomy in 2016 was assessed. The specialty backgrounds of the various providers who performed mechanical thrombectomy were analyzed. Procedure volumes for intracranial stenting, embolization, and vertebral augmentation procedures were assessed. From 2013 to 2017, the total numbers of mechanical thrombectomy procedures for acute ischemic stroke were 19 in 2013 and 111 in 2017. The total volume of mechanical thrombectomy procedures in the Medicare fee-for-service population in 2016 was 7479. For intracranial endovascular procedures, 20,850 were performed in the U.S. Medicare population in 2015 and 22,511 in 2016. Radiologists performed 45% of procedures in 2016; neurosurgeons, 41%; and neurologists, 11%. When the total numbers of percutaneous brain and spine procedures were combined, radiologists performed 41%; neurosurgeons, 23%; and neurologists, 3%. In 2016, there were a total of 220 active NIR staff at the NIR programs with rotating residents or fellows. In these programs, 49% of staff members were neuroradiologists, 41% were neurosurgeons, and 10% were neurologists. Of the 72 NIR departments with confirmed rotating fellows or residents, 14 had only neuroradiologists on staff, six had only neurosurgeons, and one had only neurologists. Increasing radiology resident interest and participation in NIR should ensure a steady influx of radiologists into the field, continuing the strong tradition of radiology participation, leadership, and innovation in NIR.

Treatment of refractory headache secondary to intracranial endovascular procedure by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the occipital nerve

This pilot study aimed at assessing the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) of the occipital nerve (ON) to treat chronic refractory headache secondary to intracranial endovascular procedures (iEVP) in 4 patients. The duration of ON-TENS therapy was only 1 month (n=2) or longer than 4 months (n=2). Overall, pain intensity decreased from 7.8 (on a 0-10 scale) at baseline to 0.8 at 6 months after ON-TENS therapy initiation (-90%), while drug treatment was reduced from 34.3 to 0.8 (-98%) on the medication quantification scale. ON-TENS is a simple technique that may benefit patients with post-iEVP refractory headache.

F113. The methohexital challenge prior to intracranial endovascular embolization

Introduction The risks associated with endovascular embolization procedures are both mitigated and predicted with the use of pharmacologic provocative testing (PT) and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM). The utility of pharmacologic provocative testing has been reviewed in the literature, mostly in patients undergoing awake procedures with the use of neurologic examination and electroencephalogram. Here, we review our experience in patients undergoing intracranial endovascular embolization procedures with the use of IONM. Methods We reviewed our database to identify all patients undergoing endovascular procedures between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2016. We included only patients who underwent cerebral endovascular embolization procedures with the use of methohexital PT. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients’ demographic factors, intraoperative findings, and postoperative examination details. We also reviewed perioperative notes to identify any adverse reactions to methohexital as well as other complications unrelated to the use of methohexital. Awake patients were tested with SSEP, EEG and real time neurologic examination while TcMEPs were performed in all anesthetized patients. BAEPs were performed in anesthetized patients if indicated. Methohexital was administered as an injection at a dose of 5 mg or 10 mg and repeat testing was performed if needed. Results A total of 64 endovascular procedures were performed in 31 patients with utilization of pharmacologic PT and were included in this review. PT was performed under general anesthesia in 54 procedures (84%) and awake testing was performed in 10 procedures (16%). PT was negative in 62 procedures and embolizations were performed in these patients. PT was positive in two procedures and the procedure was terminated without embolization in one patient. The other patient underwent embolization after repositioning the catheter at an alternative embolization site but repeat testing was not performed. There were no new postoperative neurologic deficits after any of these procedures. We calculated the specificity of pharmacologic PT as 100% as none of the patients with a negative provocative test developed a new postoperative neurologic deficit after embolization. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review on pharmacologic PT with methohexital and with the use of IONM under general anesthesia. Our results also indicate that IONM under general anesthesia can allow pharmacologic PT at a specificity comparable to awake testing. We also postulate that the absence of false negatives provides strong evidence that IONM accurately monitors the functional state of the brain during PT. If this were not the case, then new neurologic deficits should be seen in some of the cases with negative tests.

Indications for the Performance of Intracranial Endovascular Neurointerventional Procedures: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Intracranial endovascular interventions provide effective and minimally invasive treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. This area of expertise has continued to gain both wider application and greater depth as new and better techniques are developed and as landmark clinical studies are performed to guide their use. Some of the greatest advances since the last American Heart Association scientific statement on this topic have been made in the treatment of ischemic stroke from large intracranial vessel occlusion, with more effective devices and large randomized clinical trials showing striking therapeutic benefit. The treatment of cerebral aneurysms has also seen substantial evolution, increasing the number of aneurysms that can be treated successfully with minimally invasive therapy. Endovascular therapies for such other diseases as arteriovenous malformations, dural arteriovenous fistulas, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, venous thrombosis, and neoplasms continue to improve. The purpose of the present document is to review current information on the efficacy and safety of procedures used for intracranial endovascular interventional treatment of cerebrovascular diseases and to summarize key aspects of best practice.

Navien catheter experience in neuroendovascular interventions.

Purpose Advancements in catheter technology have allowed for greater flexibility and trackability. We report 265 consecutive, single-center neurointerventional cases using the Navien guide catheter. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis was performed of consecutive intracranial endovascular procedures utilizing the Navien catheter. Data collected included procedure type, catheters, guide catheter position, cervical access artery tortuosity grade and complications. Results The 5 French catheter was used in 130 cases. The 6 French catheter was used in 135 cases. Access was via the internal carotid artery in 204, external carotid artery in 10, and vertebral artery in 51 cases. Catheter tip position was in the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery in 36.6% (97/265), distal cervical internal carotid artery in 13.9% (37/265), cavernous internal carotid artery in 10.2% (27/265), proximal or mid cervical internal carotid artery in 5.6% (15/265), supraclinoid internal carotid artery in 0.8% (2/265), and intradural vertebral artery in 0.8% (2/265) of cases. Catheter position was not determined in 18.9% (50/265) of cases. Proximal vessel tortuosity (grade B or C) was present in 98 cases (37%), and the catheter was tracked distal to the tortuosity in 93% (91/98) of these cases. The overall success rate without catheter complication was 97% (258/265). The Navien was replaced by another catheter in 1.9% (5/265) of cases. There was one cervical artery dissection (0.4%) and one severe vasospasm (0.4%) necessitating Navien removal. Conclusions The Navien guide catheter provided distal access support for neuroendovascular interventions in nearly all cases, including cases with proximal artery tortuosity, with a low rate of catheter-related complications.

Headache and endovascular procedures.

The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3 beta) includes headache attributed to intracranial endovascular procedures (EVPs). The aim of this review is to describe the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of headache related to vascular lesions and EVPs. Current studies regarding this issue are contradictory, although generally favouring headache improvement after EVPs. Further large studies are needed to adequately assess the effect of EVPs on headache.

The maxillary artery and its variants: an anatomical study with neurosurgical applications.

The maxillary artery (MA) has gained attention in neurosurgery particularly in cerebral revascularization techniques, intracranial endonasal approaches and endovascular procedures. To describe and illustrate the anatomy of the MA and its neurosurgical importance in a detailed manner. Six cadaveric heads (12 MAs) were injected with latex. The arteries and surrounding structures were dissected and studied using microsurgical techniques. The dimensions, course and branching patterns of the MA were recollected. In addition, 20 three-dimensional reconstruction CT head and neck angiograms (3D CTAs) of actual patients were correlated with the cadaveric findings. The MA can be divided in three segments: mandibular, pterygoid and pterygopalatine. Medial and lateral trunk variants regarding its course around the lateral pterygoid muscle can be found. The different branching patterns of the MA have a direct correlation with the course of its main trunk at the base of the skull. Branching and trunk variants on one side do not predict the findings on the contralateral side. In this study the highly variable course, branching patterns and relations of the MA are illustrated and described in human cadaveric heads and 3D CTAs. MA 3D CTA with bone reconstruction can be useful preoperatively for the identification of the medial or lateral course variants of this artery, particularly its pterygoid segment, which should be taken into account when considering the MA as a donor vessel for an EC-IC bypass.

Headache improvement after intracranial endovascular procedures in Chinese patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm: A prospective observational study.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a long-term improvement in headache of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) treated with intracranial endovascular procedures.Using a prospective design, consecutive patients with UIAs with neuroendovascular treatment from January 2014 to December 2014 were asked to participate. Headache outcomes were established before aneurysm treatment and for 6 months following treatment. Factors associated with different headache outcomes were investigated.Ultimately, 58 patients completed the 6-month follow-up. In total, 29 patients had preoperative headache. Six months after the intracranial endovascular procedure, 13 patients (44.8%) stated that their headaches were relieved after endovascular treatment; headache in 1 patient improved slightly, and 12 reported disappearance of headache and marked improvement. Overall, the mean headache scores of 29 patients improved on the self-reported Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) after endovascular treatment (6.00 vs. 2.30; P < 0.001). Patients with pretreatment tension-type headache, more severe headaches, stent-assisted coiling, and stent implantation of the aneurysm were the important disadvantage for patients in improvement of post-procedure headache.Treatment of UIAs resulted in relief of headaches in about half of patients who had headaches pre-operatively.

Headache in subarachnoid hemorrhage and headache attributed to intracranial endovascular procedures.

Headache is a critical problem in the emergency setting. In this paper we briefly review the epidemiological data regarding headache in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH), considering the role of headache as a warning symptom and the other clinical manifestation of SAH. We have also introduced a recent clinical entity, represented by headache associated to intracranial endovascular procedures (IEPs).

E-053 Activated clotting time measurements are essential for monitoring effective anti-coagulation during endovascular neurosurgical procedures requiring the use of heparin

Background and PurposeSafe and effective anticoagulation plays a pivotal role in neuro-interventional procedures. Patients routinely receive heparin for prevention of intra-procedural thrombosis or thromboembolic complications. We have recently noticed time-dependent...

Headache Following Intracranial Neuroendovascular Procedures

Predicting who will develop post-procedure headache (PPH) following intracranial endovascular procedures (IEPs) would be clinically useful and potentially could assist in reducing the excessive diagnostic testing so often obtained in these patients. Although limited safety data exist, the use of triptans or dihydroergotamine (DHE) often raise concern when used with pre/post-coiled aneurysms. We sought to determine risk factors for PPH following IEP, to evaluate the utility of diagnostic testing in patients with post-coil acute headache (HA), and to record whether triptans and DHE have been used safely in this clinical setting. We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients undergoing IEPs. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare patients who did and did not develop PPH. We reviewed records pertaining to 372 patients, of whom 263 underwent intracranial coil embolizations, 21 acrylic glue embolizations, and 88 stent placements. PPH occurred in 72% of coil patients, 33% of glue patients, and 14% of stent patients. Significant risk factors for post-coil HA were female gender, any pre-coil HA history, smoking, and anxiety/depression. A pre-stent history of HA exceeding 1 year's duration, and smoking were risk factors for post-stent HA. A pre-glue history of HA exceeding 1 year was the only risk factor for post-glue HA. In the small subgroup available for study, treatment with triptans or DHE was not associated with adverse events in pre/post-coiled aneurysms. Diagnostic testing was low yield. Occurrence of PPH was common after IEPs and especially so with coiling and in women, smokers, and those with anxiety/depression, and was often of longer duration than allowed by current International Classification of Headache Disorders-II criteria. The yield of diagnostic testing was low, and in a small subgroup treatment with triptans or DHE did not cause adverse events in pre/post-coiled aneurysms. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

What Will Anesthesiologists Be Anesthetizing? Trends in Neurosurgical Procedure Usage

To anticipate future changes to the practice of neuroanesthesia, we examined the nationwide trends in frequently performed operative neurosurgery. We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a random sampling of approximately 20% of United States hospitals from 1993 to 2007. Eight categories of operative neurosurgery were developed, based on procedure codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). We tabulated total volume, mean length of stay, and inhospital mortality and calculated growth rates over the entire period, the most recent 5-year period, and the most recent 2-year period. We examined annual volumes from 1993 to 2007 for each neurosurgical category for the most common ICD-9-CM procedure code within each category. Intracranial endovascular procedures had the highest compound annual growth rate over the entire study period (32%), the most recent 4 years (29%), and the most recent 2 years (12%). Craniotomy for vascular surgery decreased over the entire period (-4.2%). Spinal fusion had the largest absolute increase over the study period (from 54,000 in 1993 to 350,000 in 2007). All categories except craniotomy for vascular surgery had decreased length of stay across the study period, with compound annual growth rates of -1.2% (ventricular and thecal shunt) to -6.6% (deep brain stimulation). Intracranial endovascular procedures had a much higher growth rate of length of stay than vascular surgery over the most recent 2-year (14% vs 1.0%) and 5-year periods (5.6% vs 1.5%). The highest volume trends in operative neurosurgery are for spinal fusion (increasing at a rate of approximately 12,000 procedures/y), craniotomy for tumors and other purposes (increasing at a rate of approximately 2,700 procedures/y), and a decrease in shunts (decreasing at a rate of approximately 3,000 per year). The data suggest that intracranial endovascular treatment remains relatively rare, but it is growing exponentially, and lengths of stay are increasing, whereas inhospital deaths are decreasing. The conclusions of this study are limited by the imprecise nature of the ICD-9-CM procedure codes, the categorization scheme we used, and by the sampling methods of the National Inpatient Sample.

Transarterial coil embolization of a carotid-cavernous fistula which occurred during stent angioplasty

Intracranial endovascular procedures are less invasive and relatively safe; however, these procedures do carry a risk of complications, such as thromboembolization, arterial injury, and vessel occlusion. We present a case of carotid-cavernous fistula development secondary to injury of the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) during stent angioplasty and its treatment by transarterial coil embolization. Probable causes of this complication and its treatment method are discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a case.

Neurogenic Pulmonary Edema During Intracranial Endovascular Therapy

Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) is a well-known complication of acute brain injury. Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) occurs clinically in a significant subset of patients with NPE. A 49-year-old woman developed refractory cerebral vasospasm requiring angioplasty following a subarachnoid hemorrhage. During angioplasty, NPE with NSM manifested as acute pulmonary edema associated with elevated pulmonary artery occlusion pressure and reduced cardiac output. Evaluations disclosed a right insular infarction, cardiac wall motion abnormalities, and electrocardiographic characteristics of NSM. The NSM completely resolved, and the neurological outcome was good. A 56-year-old woman developed NPE during complicated coil embolization of an internal carotid artery aneurysm. Cardiac function was normal, and the NPE resolved with a brief period of mechanical ventilation and diuresis. The delayed appearance of NSM and NPE during endovascular therapy in these patients implies a degree of risk for sympathetically mediated cardiopulmonary dysfunction during complex intracranial endovascular procedures.

Selective Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis for Embolic Complications of Cerebral Endovascular Therapy

Cerebral thrombo-embolic complications seldom occur during intracranial endovascular therapeutic procedures. Yet, despite a systemic preventive regimen of pre-operative intravenous acetylsalicylic acid and effective systemic heparinisation, we encountered seven complications of this type over a period of five years, a 3.7 per thousand incidence (7/1858). Local intra-arterial thrombolysis performed immediately after the thrombo-embolic complication resulted in complete recanalization in five cases and partial recanalization in two. CT scans performed 24 hours after thrombolysis were normal in six of the seven patients. Only one female patient with partial recanalization showed a limited cortical infarct in the parietal distribution of the middle cerebral artery territory. In all seven cases recanalization of the occluded vessel resulted in a return to the baseline initial neurological status. This short series demonstrates the usefulness of emergent thrombolysis dealing with the thrombo-embolic complications of angiography or endovascular therapy. These results are in agreement with these experimental data showing that early recanalization can prevent macroscopically visible infarcts.

Dose escalation safety and tolerance study of the N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist dextromethorphan in neurosurgery patients

Experimental studies have shown that dextromethorphan, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist is neuroprotective in experimental models of ischemic cerebral injury. The authors studied the safety and tolerability of oral dextromethorphan (DM) in humans, and correlated serum levels of this drug with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain levels. Neurosurgical patients undergoing intracranial surgery or endovascular procedures were given ascending doses of oral DM prior to and 24 hours after surgery. Serum, CSF, and brain levels of DM and its active metabolite, dextrorphan, were measured. One hundred eighty-one patients received a total of 212 courses of DM treatment in dose ranges of 0.8 to 9.64 mg/kg. Serum DM levels correlated highly with CSF and brain DM levels. Brain levels were 68-fold higher than serum levels, whereas CSF levels were fourfold lower than serum levels. The maximum DM levels attained were 1514 ng/ml (serum) 118 ng/ml (CSF), and 92,700 ng/g (brain). The maximum dextrorphan levels were 501 ng/ml (serum), 167 ng/ml (CSF), and 6840 ng/g (brain). In 11 patients, brain and plasma levels of DM were comparable to levels that have been shown to be neuroprotective in animal studies. Frequent side effects occurring at neuroprotective levels of DM included nystagmus (64%), nausea and vomiting (27%) distorted vision (27%), feeling "drunk" (27%), ataxia (27%), and dizziness (27%). All symptoms were reversible and no patient suffered severe adverse reactions. This study demonstrates that potentially neuroprotective doses of DM can be administered safely to neurosurgical patients. Brain and CSF levels of DM can be estimated from serum levels of the drug. Side effects, even at the highest levels, proved to be tolerable and reversible. Administration of DM to patients at risk for cerebral injury should be further explored.

Headaches during intracranial endovascular procedures: a possible model of vascular headache.

We report a series of 11 patients who developed headaches during intracranial endovascular procedures performed for the treatment of arteriovenous malformations (10 cases) or aneurysms (1 case). Headache was precipitated either by balloon inflation (3 cases) or by embolization (8 cases), and had a very constant pattern. In all cases the pain started suddenly, reaching maximum intensity at once. Headache was focal, unilateral, ipsilateral to the occluded artery, nonthrobbing and short-lasting (usually less than 10 minutes). It was not associated with gastrointestinal, autonomic, or aura-like symptoms. Headache localization depended upon the catheterized artery, being constant for each of the major vascular territories. Yet, in all patients pain was felt in the cutaneous territory of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. The occurrence of headache was not associated with cortical deficit nor cortical irritation (assessed both clinically and by the EEG) and therefore seems to be directly related to the stimulation of the arterial wall. This type of pain can be used as a model of pure vascular headache. Its study can contribute not only to understand the pattern of intracranial vascular innervation but also to understand or to refute the vascular components of migraine.