Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms Research Articles

Abstract WP181: Treatment of Unruptured Small and Medium Wide-Necked Aneurysms of the Internal Carotid Artery Using the 64-Wire Surpass Evolve: Results of the SEASE International Registry

Introduction: The management of wide-necked internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms is technically challenging with established endovascular and microsurgical techniques that are limited by the associated morbidity and/or recurrence. The PREMIER study first demonstrated high rates of complete occlusion without parent vessel stenosis or permanent neurological complications after the treatment of wide-necked small and medium-sized intracranial ICA aneurysms with the 48-wire pipeline. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of the new generation 64-wire Surpass Evolve (SE) flow diverter for the treatment of the same intracranial ICA aneurysm population. Methods: This is a sub-analysis from the Safety and Effectiveness Assessment of the Surpass Evolve (SEASE) registry, an observational cohort study including 15 academic institutions in North America and Europe spanning between 2020-2023. Analysis included patients with unruptured wide-necked saccular aneurysms (not previously treated), measuring <12 mm along the ICA segments. Primary effectiveness was complete occlusion (Raymond Roy Class 1) without retreatment at 1-year follow-up (core lab adjudicated), and primary safety was major stroke (ischemic/hemorrhagic) in the territory supplied by the target artery or death. Results: 129 cases were included (median age 58 years, IQR: 50-67 years, 85% females). Median aneurysm and neck size were 5.8 mm (IQR: 4.0-7.5) and 4.1 (IQR, 3.0-5.5). Most aneurysms were in the ICA C6 segment (66.7%, 86/129), followed by the C7 segment (21.0%, 21/129). Successful implantation was encountered in 99% (128/129) of the cases. At a median 10.1 months (IQR: 6.3-12.6), the rate of complete occlusion was 75.2% (91/121), ≥50% in-stent stenosis 7% (9/129), and retreatment 0.8% (1/129). Major stroke and overall mortality were reported in 1.6% (2/129) of the cases. Conclusion: Our study evaluating outcomes from the SEASE international multicenter registry found that patients with wide-necked unruptured saccular small to medium-sized aneurysms can be effectively treated with the 64-wire chrome-cobalt SE. Furthermore, the SE showed a considerable safety profile for this patient population.

Proximal Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion and Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass for Treatment of Fusiform and Giant Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms

To discuss the treatment of intracranial fusiform and giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms via revascularization based on our institutional experience. An institutional review board-approved retrospective analysis was performed of patients with unruptured fusiform and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms treated from November 1991 to May 2020. All patients were evaluated for extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass and ICA occlusion. Thirty-eight patients were identified. Initially, patients failing preoperative balloon test occlusion were treated with superficial temporal artery (STA)-middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass and concurrent proximal ICA ligation. We then treated them with STA-MCA bypass, followed by staged balloon test occlusion, and, if they passed, endovascular ICA coil occlusion. We treat all surgical medically uncomplicated patients with double-barrel STA-MCA bypass and concurrent proximal ICA ligation. The mean length of follow-up was 99 months. Symptom stability or improvement was noted in 85% of patients. Bypass graft patency was 92.1%, and all surviving patients had patent bypasses at their last angiogram. Aneurysm occlusion was complete in 90.9% of patients completing proximal ICA ligation. Three patients experienced ischemic complications and 4 patients experienced hemorrhagic complications. Not all fusiform intracranial ICA aneurysms require intervention, except when life-threatening rupture risk is high or symptomatic management is necessary to preserve function and quality of life. EC-IC bypass can augment the safety of proximal ICA occlusion. The rate of complete aneurysm occlusion with this treatment is 90.9%, and long-term bypass graft-related complications are rare. Perioperative stroke is a major risk, and continued evolution of treatment is required.

Flow Diverter Stenting for Symptomatic Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms: Clinical Outcomes and Factors for Symptom Improvement.

Flow diverter (FD) stenting is expected to improve cranial nerve symptoms caused by aneurysms via the theoretical reduction of the mass effect by promoting spontaneous thrombosis through the flow diversion effect. However, the factors involved in symptom improvement after treatment remain unclear. This study was performed to identify factors for symptom improvement after FD stenting and the symptom improvement rate of each impaired cranial nerve. We retrospectively evaluated 33 patients who underwent FD stenting for symptomatic internal carotid artery aneurysms at our institution from January 2016 to June 2021. Twenty-three (69.7%) patients had resolved or improved symptoms after 1 year of treatment. The optic nerve was affected in 12 patients; the oculomotor nerve, in 16; the trigeminal nerve, in 2; and the abducens nerve, in 13. There was no statistically significant difference in the symptom improvement rate of each impaired cranial nerve. The patients were classified into the improved and nonimproved groups based on their symptoms after 1 year of treatment, and the factors related to the symptoms were analyzed. The time from onset to treatment was significantly shorter in the improved group than in the nonimproved group (197.1 and 800 days, respectively; p = 0.023). There were no significant differences in age, aneurysm diameter, adjunctive coil embolization, partial thrombosis, change in mass diameter on magnetic resonance imaging, or aneurysm occlusion rate on angiography between the two groups. These results suggest that early treatment after the onset of aneurysm-induced cranial neuropathies increases the likelihood of symptom improvement.

Rapid Growth Progression of an Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm in a Patient with Multiple Inflammatory/Autoimmune Diseases Treated with a Flow Diverter

Rapid Growth Progression of an Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm in a Patient with Multiple Inflammatory/Autoimmune Diseases Treated with a Flow Diverter

Comparative Analysis of Feasibility of the Retrograde Suction Decompression Technique for Microsurgical Treatment of Large and Giant Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms.

ObjectiveRetrograde suction decompression (RSD) is an adjuvant technique used for the microsurgical treatment of large and giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy and safety of the RSD technique for the treatment of large and giant ICA aneurysms relative to other conventional microsurgical techniques. MethodsThe aneurysms were classified into two groups depending on whether the RSD method was used (21 in the RSD group vs. 43 in the non-RSD group). Baseline characteristics, details of the surgical procedure, angiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes, and procedure-related complications of each group were reviewed retrospectively. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the rates of complete neck-clipping between the RSD (57.1%) and non-RSD (67.4%) groups. Similarly, there was no difference in the rates of good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) between the RSD (85.7%) and non-RSD (81.4%) groups. Considering the initial functional status, 19 of 21 (90.5%) patients in the RSD group and 35 of 43 (81.4%) patients in the non-RSD group showed an improvement or no change in functional status, which did not reach statistical significance. ConclusionIn this study, the microsurgical treatment of large and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms using the RSD technique obtained competitive angiographic and clinical outcomes without increasing the risk of procedure-related complications. The RSD technique might be a useful technical option for the microsurgical treatment of large and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms.

Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein to Monitor Clopidogrel Posology in a 7-Year-Old Child Stented for a Post-Traumatic Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm

AbstractMany pediatric medical protocols or drug posology like biantiplatelet therapy are extrapolated from adult care. This association could be indicated in specific pediatric situations such as ischemic stroke, some cardiac conditions, or to control post stent thrombosis/stenosis. If acetylsalicylic acid is commonly used, few data are available about optimal management of clopidogrel in children. We describe the case of a 7-year-old girl admitted to pediatric intensive care unit who undergoes a transitory hemiparesis after a bicycle accident. Brain magnetic resonance imaging reveals a subarachnoid hemorrhage and a wide right Sylvian arachnoid cyst. Hemorrhage predominated at the level of the optochiasmatic cistern, close to the right internal carotid artery. At the same level, angiography revealed a small aneurysm of the internal carotid artery supposed to be a postfalse traumatic aneurysm. The deployment treated this aneurysm of a flow diverter. The treatment was performed under continuous systemic heparin therapy associated with intravenous acetylsalicylic acid, and Clopidogrel was administered immediately after the procedure. An oral bi antiplatelet treatment was initiated the day 2 with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel (1 mg/kg/day). To monitor clopidogrel posology, a vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein [VASP]) was performed. The final VASP assay result was 20% for a clopidogrel posology at 0.5 mg/kg/day. Blood pressure and neurological examination were normal during all the hospitalization. VASP assay can be used in children to define the optimal posology of clopidogrel. Further studies are required to determine an optimal initial posology.

Clinical evaluation of subtracted pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition-based magnetic resonance angiography compared to 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography for improved flow dephasing at 3 Tesla

ObjectiveFlow dephasing artifacts within intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) have been problematic for 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D-TOF-MRA). This study aimed to evaluate pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition subtraction-based MR angiography (PETRA-MRA) for decreasing flow dephasing artifacts compared to 3D-TOF-MRA in intracranial segments of ICA at 3 T. MethodsSixty healthy participants and seven patients with intracranial ICA aneurysms were enrolled to undergo 3D-TOF-MRA and PETRA-MRA. Two radiologists each evaluated the image quality of healthy participants using a 4-point scale (1: the best and 4: the worst). Quantitative analysis of the extent of homogeneity in signal intensity within the ICA and intracranial aneurysms was conducted using a parameter d: the higher the d value, the greater the signal homogeneity. Wilcoxon signed rank test, Chi-square test and the weighted kappa (κ) statistic were used for statistical analyses. ResultsThe image quality of PETRA-MRA with an overall score of 1.35 ± 0.53 was significantly better than that obtained with 3D-TOF-MRA, with an overall score of 3.50 ± 0.62 (Z = -9.56, p < 0.001). The parameter d of PETRA-MRA was higher than that of 3D-TOF-MRA for both 60 healthy participants (0.97 ± 0.05, 0.87 ± 0.11; z = -13.21, p < 0.001) and 7 patients with intracranial aneurysms (0.81 ± 0.18, 0.74 ± 0.16; z = -2.37, p = 0.018). ConclusionCompared with conventional 3D-TOF-MRA, PETRA-MRA remarkably improved the image quality with reduced flow dephasing artifacts in segments of intracranial ICA.

Effect of Carotid Siphon Anatomy on Aneurysm Occlusion After Flow Diversion for Treatment of Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms.

Flow diversion (FD) is effective for treatment of intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. To determine whether carotid siphon (CS) geometry influences the efficacy of FD when employed for ICA aneurysms. Outcomes of a consecutive series of patients with ICA aneurysms treated with FD were retrospectively reviewed. CS anatomy was quantified through measurement of the posterior, anterior, and anterosuperior bend angles in accordance with previously described methodology. The relationship of CS geometry to likelihood of incomplete aneurysm occlusion at 1 yr after treatment was assessed with multivariate logistic regression analysis. There were 167 ICA aneurysms in 164 patients treated with FD during the study period. The mean age of our cohort was 55.7 yr (standard deviation [SD]: 12.3) and a majority of patients were female (145/164, 86.8%). Anterior (47.4 degrees vs 8.5, P<.001) and anterosuperior bend angles (100.9 vs 76.5, P=.002) were significantly greater in aneurysms that required repeat FD after initial treatment. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, increasing patient age (unit odds ratio [OR]: 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.08; P=.003) and anterior bend angle ≥-3.5 (OR: 2.47, 95% CI 1.04-5.86; P=.046) were associated with increased odds of incomplete aneurysm occlusion at 1 yr after treatment. These findings suggest that variations in CS anatomy may influence the efficacy of FD treatment and should be analyzed prior to offering FD for treatment of ICA aneurysms. Further investigation into the hemodynamic effects of CS geometry is warranted.

Retrograde Suction Decompression Through Direct Puncture of the Common Carotid Artery for Paraclinoid Aneurysm.

Surgical clipping of paraclinoid aneurysm can be very difficult because strong adhesions may hinder the dissection of the perforators and surrounding anatomical structures from the aneurysm dome. We describe our experience with using retrograde suction decompression during the clipping of paraclinoid aneurysms and discuss the relative advantages and pitfalls. This study included 23 patients with large and giant paraclinoid aneurysms who underwent surgical treatment consisting of direct clipping with suction decompression between March 2004 and August 2014. Direct puncture of the common carotid artery (CCA) was performed with a 20-gauge needle. The aneurysm was temporarily trapped by clamping of the CCA and external carotid artery (ECA), followed by temporary clipping of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) distal to the aneurysm neck. Blood was then gently aspirated through a catheter introduced into the cervical ICA, resulting in collapse of the aneurysm. Therefore, safe aneurysm dissection was feasible during interruption of the blood flow, which could be maintained for up to 5 min. This procedure was repeated until dissection and clipping of the aneurysm were completed. Seven patients were admitted with SAH, 11 with asymptomatic unruptured aneurysm, and 5 with symptomatic unruptured aneurysm. The aneurysms were located on the paraclinoidal segment of the ICA in 15 cases, on the ICA-posterior communicating artery (PComA) in 6, at the ICA bifurcation in 1, and on the anterior wall of the ICA in 1. None of them suffered complications related to the CCA puncture. Surgical outcome was good recovery in 13 patients, moderate disability in 4, severe disability in 4, and vegetative state in 1. Retrograde suction decompression through direct puncture of the common carotid artery is a useful adjunct technique for the clipping of paraclinoid ICA aneurysms.

Pipeline for Uncoilable or Failed Aneurysms: Results from a Multicenter Clinical Trial

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED; ev3/Covidien, Irvine, Calif) in the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms. The Pipeline for Uncoilable or Failed Aneurysms is a multicenter, prospective, interventional, single-arm trial of PED for the treatment of uncoilable or failed aneurysms of the internal carotid artery. Institutional review board approval of the HIPAA-compliant study protocol was obtained from each center. After providing informed consent, 108 patients with recently unruptured large and giant wide-necked aneurysms were enrolled in the study. The primary effectiveness endpoint was angiographic evaluation that demonstrated complete aneurysm occlusion and absence of major stenosis at 180 days. The primary safety endpoint was occurrence of major ipsilateral stroke or neurologic death at 180 days. PED placement was technically successful in 107 of 108 patients (99.1%). Mean aneurysm size was 18.2 mm; 22 aneurysms (20.4%) were giant (>25 mm). Of the 106 aneurysms, 78 met the study's primary effectiveness endpoint (73.6%; 95% posterior probability interval: 64.4%-81.0%). Six of the 107 patients in the safety cohort experienced a major ipsilateral stroke or neurologic death (5.6%; 95% posterior probability interval: 2.6%-11.7%). PED offers a reasonably safe and effective treatment of large or giant intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms, demonstrated by high rates of complete aneurysm occlusion and low rates of adverse neurologic events; even in aneurysms failing previous alternative treatments.

What Is the Best Approach? A Cadaver-Based Anatomic Comparison of the Ipsilateral and Contralateral Approach to Superior Hypophyseal Artery Aneurysms

Introduction: Superior hypophyseal artery (SHA) aneurysms are proximal inferomedially projecting intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms. Although the SHA provides the major blood supply to the intracranial optic nerve, visualization of the SHA branch via an ipsilateral approach to an SHA aneurysm is usually suboptimal but may be improved using a contralateral approach. The objective of this study is to compare the contralateral and ipsilateral approaches to the SHA region.

Tailored Flow Alteration Treatment for Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms: Strategy Beyond Parent Artery Occlusion With Bypass

A 58-year-old woman with multiple right internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms detected incidentally was referred to us. Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed a broad-necked paraclinoid aneurysm and an aneurysm on the C(1) segment. Aneurysm clipping with preservation of the anterior choroidal artery and posterior communicating artery was not possible because these vessels could not be adequately identified. Intraoperative digital subtraction angiography during obliteration of the cervical portion of the ICA confirmed retrograde flow from the extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass to the right ophthalmic artery and stagnation of flow in the aneurysms. The cervical portion of the ICA was ligated. Postoperative three-dimensional CT angiography confirmed complete occlusion of both aneurysms and absence of ischemic lesions involving branches of the ICA. Reversal of the blood flow in the ICA via the EC-IC bypass primarily into the ophthalmic artery as the flow outlet by obliterating the cervical portion of the ICA was successful. To prevent ischemia in the territory fed by the perforating arteries of the ICA, tailored flow alteration treatment may be superior to simple parent artery occlusion of the ICA with/without bypass. The pattern of flow alteration should be deliberately based on individual anatomic variations, especially the preservation of flow outlets.

P-027 Management of intracranial artery dissections with stents: a series of 49 patients

IntroductionArterial dissections may be spontaneous or related to trauma, and patients with certain conditions, such as fibromuscular dysplasia or collagen vascular diseases, may be more pre-disposed to develop dissections. Arterial...

Recurrent Coital Headache Associated With an Unruptured Carotid Saccular Aneurysm

We report the case of a 48-year-old woman whose recurrent coital headache ceased following intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm embolization.

Stent Management of Coil Herniation in Embolization of Internal Carotid Aneurysms

Coil herniation into the parent artery after detachment is an uncommon complication of embolization of the intracranial aneurysm. We report our experience with stent reconstruction of the lumen and flow of the internal carotid artery (ICA) after coil herniation during embolization for intracranial ICA aneurysms and the possible mechanisms of coil herniation. A series of 216 consecutive patients was treated by endovascular coil embolizations for intracranial aneurysms. Of these patients, there were 9 (4 men, 5 women; 32-68 years of age) complicating with coil herniation into the ICA and undergoing stent deployment to reconstruct the ICA lumen (n = 8) or both lumen and flow (n = 1). Wide-neck aneurysms were found in 8 and narrow-neck, in 1. Aneurysms were in the posterior communicating artery (n = 5) and the paraophthalmic (n = 3) and cavernous portions (n = 1) of the ICA. Self-expandable stents were deployed in the ICA in 6; balloon-mounted stents were selected in 3. The causes of coil herniation appeared to be coil instability after detachment (n = 6), excessive embolization (n = 1), microcatheter-related problems (n = 1), or being pushed by subsequent coil embolization (n = 1). Endovascular stent placement to reconstruct the lumen and/or flow of the ICA was technically successful in all 9 patients; 1 needed a second stent due to further coil migration. No significant procedure-related complications were found. Clinical follow-up was 8-35 months. Coil herniation occasionally occurs during endovascular embolization of ICA aneurysms because of coil instability after detachment, excessive embolization, microcatheter-related problems, or pushing by subsequent coil embolization. In this small series, stent placement was safe and effective in the reconstruction of the arterial lumen and/or restoration of flow past a herniated coil mass.

Vertebral Artery-to-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass with Coil Embolization of Giant Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm: Technical Case Report

Cerebral revascularization with extracranial-to-intracranial bypass is often required during the surgical treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms. This report is the first in which a vertebral artery (VA)-to-middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass in conjunction with endovascular coil embolization is used in the successful treatment of a giant intracranial aneurysm. A 68-year-old man previously diagnosed with a 6-cm internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm presented complaining of progressing left hemiparesis and mental status changes. His aneurysm had been treated previously by common carotid artery occlusion 20 years earlier. Arteriography defined the partially thrombosed, right supraclinoid ICA aneurysm arising at the junction of the posterior communicating artery and the supraclinoid ICA. Because of the patient's worsening symptomatology, endovascular coiling with placement of a superficial temporal artery-to-MCA bypass was performed. The patient tolerated this procedure well, and his symptoms resolved. However, they recurred several months later, and imaging suggested poor right hemispheric perfusion despite a patent bypass. A VA-MCA bypass using a saphenous vein graft was then performed using the distal right VA at the level of cervical vertebra 1 (C1) as the donor vessel with a distal anastomotic site on the right MCA. Coil embolization of the aneurysm was repeated, and the feeding posterior communicating artery was sacrificed. The patient is currently asymptomatic more than 1 year after the second bypass and coil embolization. This report describes a safe and definitive treatment option for a giant intracranial ICA aneurysm using a posterior-to-anterior circulation (VA-MCA) bypass, followed by endovascular coil embolization in a patient with previous ligation of the common carotid artery. VA-MCA high-flow saphenous vein bypass followed by coil embolization is a useful technique that is especially valuable in the subset of giant aneurysm patients who have previously been treated by carotid ligation.

Neuroendovascular therapy combined with neurosurgery for large and giant intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm presenting mass effect

Introduction: Large and giant intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms presenting mass effect are sometimes treated by combined neuroendovascular therapy and neurosurgery. In this article, we survey such kinds of combined treatment in our institute. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients underwent such a treatment, out of 60 cases, with large and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms presenting mass effect. Neuroendovascular therapy included proximal occlusion of ICAs in 13 patients and trapping of ICAs, together with aneurysms in 3 patients. Neurosurgery included vein grafting in nine patients and superficial temporal artery–middle cerebral artery anastomosis in seven patients. Results: Clinical symptoms improved immediately in 12 of the patients. Symptomatic impairment of ipsilateral cerebral blood flow was observed in two of them and visual acuity disturbance caused by ophthalmic artery occlusion in one. The advantage of endovascular occlusion over surgical ligation is to occlude ICAs as close to the aneurysm as possible to avoid collateral flow to the aneurysm. Conclusion: Neuroendovascular therapy, combined with neurosurgery for large and giant intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms presenting mass effect, is a useful treatment option.

Stent併用によるGDC塞栓術を施行したbroad neckを有する巨大内頸動脈瘤の1例

Stent併用によるGDC塞栓術を施行したbroad neckを有する巨大内頸動脈瘤の1例

Direct approach to a traumatic giant internal carotid artery aneurysm associated with a carotid-cavernous fistula

The case is reported of a giant intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm associated with a carotid-cavernous fistula following a closed head injury. The aneurysm and the fistula disappeared after only the neck of the aneurysm was clipped. This is the first case in which a direct surgical approach was successful in sparing the internal carotid flow. Reports of similar cases are reviewed.

Management of giant intracranial ICA aneurysms with combined extracranial-intracranial anastomosis and endovascular occlusion

Nine patients with giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms (greater than 2.5 cm in diameter) were subjected to a combined extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass procedure and endovascular ICA occlusion during 1987 and 1988. The procedures were performed under one anesthetic. In all cases the collateral circulation had been judged insufficient on the basis of a strict preoperative testing protocol including: cerebral panangiography, electroencephalography, somatosensory potential recording, and cerebral blood flow monitoring during manual compression of the ICA in the neck. There were four intracavernous ICA aneurysms, four carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms, and one supraclinoid ICA aneurysm. All patients showed symptoms and signs of compression of the surrounding nervous structures. In the five cases of intradural lesions, the artery was occluded at the level of the aneurysm neck, so the ophthalmic artery had to be occluded. There was, nevertheless, no case of worsening of vision following surgery, and all nine patients showed significant improvement following the combined procedure. A combined EC-IC bypass procedure and endovascular ICA occlusion allows for immediate verification of the surgical results and appears to be a worthwhile method for treating giant intracranial aneurysms.