Neurointerventional Procedures Research Articles

Short Chain Fatty Acids Taken at Time of Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Are Independent of Stroke Severity But Associated With Inflammatory Markers and Worse Symptoms at Discharge.

IntroductionShort chain fatty acids (SCFA) are gut microbiota-derived metabolites that contribute to the gut-brain axis and may impact stroke outcomes following gut dysbiosis. We evaluated plasma SCFA concentrations against stroke severity parameters and identified SCFA-associated protein networks.MethodsThe Blood and Clot Thrombectomy Registry and Collaboration (BACTRAC), a continuously enrolling tissue bank, was used to obtain stroke samples. Arterial blood distal and proximal to the thrombus was obtained from Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) Patients (n=53) during thrombectomy. Patient demographics, stroke presentation and outcome parameters were reported. The SCFAs were isolated from proximal plasma via chemical derivatization UHPLC coupled tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring. Proteomic levels for 184 cardioembolic and inflammatory proteins was quantified from systemic and intracranial plasma by Olink. Arterial blood from cerebrovascular patients undergoing elective neurointerventional procedures was used as controls.ResultsAcetate positively correlated with time from last known normal (LKN) and was significantly lower in stroke patients compared to control. Isobutyrate, Butyrate and 2-Methylbutyrate negatively correlated with %ΔNIHSS. Isobutyrate and 2-Methylbutyrate positively correlated with NIHSS discharge. SCFA concentrations were not associated with NIHSS admission, infarct volume, or edema volume. Multiple SCFAs positively associated with systemic and pro-inflammatory cytokines, most notably IL-6, TNF-α, VCAM1, IL-17, and MCP-1.ConclusionsPlasma SCFA concentrations taken at time of stroke are not associated with stroke severity at presentation. However, higher levels of SCFAs at the time of stroke are associated with increased markers of inflammation, less recovery from admission to discharge, and worse symptom burden at discharge.

Radiation exposure in the intra-arterial nimodipine therapy of subarachnoid hemorrhage related cerebral vasospasm

The selective intra-arterial nimodipine application for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) in patients after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSAH) is widely employed. The purpose of this study is to examine the radiation exposure and to determine local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) of intra-arterial nimodipine therapy. In a retrospective study design, DRLs and achievable dose (AD) were assessed for all patients undergoing (I) selective intra-arterial nimodipine application or (II) additional mechanical angioplasty for CVS treatment. Interventional procedures were differentiated according to the type of procedure and the number of probed vessels. Altogether 494 neurointerventional procedures of 121 patients with CVS due to sSAH could be included. The radiation exposure indices were distributed as follows: (I) DRL 74.3 Gy·cm2, AD 59.8 Gy·cm2; (II) DRL 128.3 Gy·cm2, AD 94.5 Gy·cm2. Kruskal–Wallis test confirmed significant dose difference considering the number of probed vessels (p< 0.001). The mean cumulative dose per patient was 254.9 Gy·cm2 (interquartile range 88.6–315.6 Gy·cm2). The DRLs of intra-arterial nimodipine therapy are substantially lower compared with DRLs proposed for other therapeutic interventions, such as thrombectomy or aneurysm coiling. However, repeated therapy sessions are often required, bearing the potential risk of a cumulatively higher radiation exposure.

A nomogram for predicting the risk of femoral pseudoaneurysm after neurointerventional procedures.

BackgroundBecause femoral pseudoaneurysm (FPA) is a dangerous complication of interventional procedures with a risk of life-threatening bleeding, our aim was to develop a predictive nomogram for FPA after neurointervention, and to suggest the best method for early identification of FPA.MethodsWe searched the PubMed database for literature addressing FPA after interventional procedures to analyze the risk factors, and we also reviewed the clinical data of patients from the Department of Neurosurgery who underwent neurointerventional procedures. Selected parameters were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram was constructed using the independent risk factors by a multivariate regression model, and was validated by bootstrap resampling method, as well as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curve. The influence on the detection rate of FPA with Doppler ultrasound was also analyzed with Fisher’s exact test.ResultsAccording to existing studies, female sex, diabetes and hypertension are major risk factors of FPA. Among 1,098 clinical patients, hypertension (P=0.044), higher body mass index (BMI) (P=0.020), larger sheath size (P=0.049), puncture site hematoma (P=0.011) and closure failure (P=0.003) were identified as independent risk factors. The nomogram including these factors showed robust discrimination [C-index, 0.916; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.810–1.022] with an area under the curve of 0.916. DCA indicated clinical utility, and the calibration curves showed an acceptable consistency. A significant improvement in the detection rate occurred when Doppler ultrasound was utilized (P=0.031).ConclusionsThe presented nomogram showed favorable predictive accuracy for FPA after neurointervention. We recommend ultrasound examination for patients at high risk of FPA evaluated by the nomogram.

Monitoring Radiation Doses during Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neurointerventional Procedures: Multicenter Study for Establishment of Reference Levels.

PurposeTo assess patient radiation doses during diagnostic and therapeutic neurointerventional procedures from multiple centers and propose dose reference level (RL).Materials and MethodsConsecutive neurointerventional procedures, performed in 22 hospitals from December 2020 to June 2021, were retrospectively studied. We collected data from a sample of 429 diagnostic and 731 therapeutic procedures. Parameters including dose-area product (DAP), cumulative air kerma (CAK), fluoroscopic time (FT), and total number of image frames (NI) were obtained. RL were calculated as the 3rd quartiles of the distribution.ResultsAnalysis of 1160 procedures from 22 hospitals confirmed the large variability in patient dose for similar procedures. RLs in terms of DAP, CAK, FT, and NI were 101.6 Gy·cm2, 711.3 mGy, 13.3 minutes, and 637 frames for cerebral angiography, 199.9 Gy·cm2, 3,458.7 mGy, 57.3 minutes, and 1,000 frames for aneurysm coiling, 225.1 Gy·cm2, 1,590 mGy, 44.7 minutes, and 800 frames for stroke thrombolysis, 412.3 Gy·cm2, 4,447.8 mGy, 99.3 minutes, and 1,621.3 frames for arteriovenous malformation (AVM) embolization, respectively. For all procedures, the results were comparable to most of those already published. Statistical analysis showed male and presence of procedural complications were significant factors in aneurysmal coiling. Male, number of passages, and procedural combined technique were significant factors in stroke thrombolysis. In AVM embolization, a significantly higher radiation dose was found in the definitive endovascular cure group.ConclusionVarious RLs introduced in this study promote the optimization of patient doses in diagnostic and therapeutic interventional neuroradiology procedures. Proposed 3rd quartile DAP (Gy·cm2) values were 101.6 for diagnostic cerebral angiography, 199.9 for aneurysm coiling, 225.1 for stroke thrombolysis, and 412.3 for AVM embolization. Continual evolution of practices and technologies requires regular updates of RLs.

Penanganan Trigeminocardiac Reflex (TCR) selama Anestesi untuk Bedah Saraf

Trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is a unique brain stem reflex that manifests as negative cardio-respiratory perturbations. The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is defined as the sudden onset of parasympathetic dysrhythmia, sympathetic hypotension, apnea, or gastric hypermotility during stimulation of any of the sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve. Clinically, the TCR has been reported in all the surgical procedures in which a structure innervated by the trigeminal nerve is involved. This reflex is largely reported in skull base surgeries/interventions; however, in recent times, it has been also linked with many neurosurgical, neurointerventional procedures, non-neurosurgical and non-surgical conditions. This reflex presents with many cardiovascular changes that can create catastrophic complications, worse outcome as well as diagnostic dilemmas. Although, there is an abundant literature with reports of incidences and risk factors of the TCR; the physiological significance and function of this brainstem reflex has not yet been fully elucidated. In addition, there are complexities within the TCR that requires examination and clarification. If a CTR occurs, it can risk factor identification and modification, depth of anesthesia assessment, prophylactic treatment with either vagolytic agents or peripheral nerve block in case of peripheral manipulations of the nerve, careful cardiovascular monitoring during anesthesia, especially in those with a risk factor for TCR, treatment of the condition when it occurs: cessation of the manipulation, and administration of vagolytic agents and adrenaline. Therefore, this narrative review intends to elaborate on its mechanisms, definition, pathophysiology, manifestations, diagnosis and management.

Safety of Oral P2Y12 Inhibitors in Interventional Neuroradiology: Current Status and Perspectives.

In the field of interventional neuroradiology, antiplatelet agents are commonly used to prepare patients before the implantation of permanent endovascular materials. Among the available drugs, clopidogrel is the most frequently used one, but resistance phenomena are considered to be relatively common. Prasugrel and ticagrelor were recently added to the pharmacologic arsenal, but the safety of these agents in patients undergoing neurointerventional procedures is still a subject of discussion. The cumulative experience with both drugs is less extensive than that with clopidogrel, and the experience with patients in the neurology field is less extensive than in the cardiology domain. In the present article, we provide a narrative review of studies that investigated safety issues of oral P2Y12 inhibitors in interventional neuroradiology and discuss potential routes for future research.

Initial experience of subcutaneous nitroglycerin for distal transradial access in neurointerventions.

Background: Transradial access (TRA) for diagnostic and interventional neuroendovascular procedures has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its improved safety profile and appeal to patients compared with transfemoral access. However, risks of TRA include hand ischemia in cases of poor ulnar collateral circulation and inability to cannulate the radial artery due to its relatively small diameter. By accessing the radial artery distal to the superficial palmar arch where ulnar collateral blood flow arises, in the anatomic snuffbox, the risk of hand ischemia is theoretically eliminated. The use of subcutaneous nitroglycerin and lidocaine to improve rates of success in radial artery access has been reported in the cardiac literature, however, has yet to be described for neurointerventional procedures. We discuss our technique and report our initial experience using subcutaneous nitroglycerin and lidocaine cocktail for access to the distal transradial artery in a variety of neuroendovascular procedures.Methods: A retrospective review of our institution’s database of neurointerventional and diagnostic procedures performed using dTRA was conducted, and 64 patients were identified between February and December 2020. Patient demographics, clinical data, procedural details, and radiographic information were collected and analyzed.Results: A total of 64 patients underwent neurointerventional procedures using the subcutaneous injection for dTRA access. The procedures performed included diagnostic cerebral angiograms (n = 47), stent and balloon assisted aneurysm coiling (n = 5), flow diversion (n = 2), intra-saccular device placement (n = 1), mechanical thrombectomy (n = 1), tumor embolization (n = 1), middle meningeal artery embolization (n = 2), extracranial carotid stent placement (n = 2), and arteriovenous malformation embolization (n = 3). While no complications of hand ischemia were appreciated, the access site conversion rate was 3.1%; 2 cases required a switch to femoral artery access due to proximal vessel tortuosity and aortic anatomical variations, and not due to access site complication. Furthermore, on repeat angiograms by the same proceduralist, distal TRA (dTRA) was successful in 100% of the cases.Conclusion: dTRA using subcutaneous nitroglycerin and lidocaine is a safe and effective method for neurointerventional and diagnostic procedures.

25 Incidence of Clinically Significant Aneurysm Requiring Neuro-intervention in Patients Who Received

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the incidence of non-ruptured aneurysms found incidentally on computed tomography angiography (CTA) in patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) undergoing evaluation for stroke symptoms. We further sought to identify the proportion of these aneurysms that were deemed “clinically significant,” defined as one concerning for rupture where the patient required a prophylactic neuro-interventional procedure.

Cessation and resumption of elective neurointerventional procedures during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and future pandemics.

At the time of this writing, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic continues to be a global threat, disrupting usual processes, and protocols for delivering health care around the globe. There have been significant regional and national differences in the scope and timing of these disruptions. Many hospitals were forced to temporarily halt elective neurointerventional procedures with the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, in order to prioritize allocation of resources for acutely ill patients and also to minimize coronavirus disease 2019 transmission risks to non-acute patients, their families, and health care workers. This temporary moratorium on elective neurointerventional procedures is generally credited with helping to “flatten the curve” and direct scarce resources to more acutely ill patients; however, there have been reports of some delaying seeking medical care when it was in fact urgent, and other reports of patients having elective treatment delayed with the result of morbidity and mortality. Many regions have resumed elective neurointerventional procedures, only to now watch coronavirus disease 2019 positivity rates again climbing as winter of 2020 approaches. A new wave is now forecast which may have larger volumes of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients than the earlier wave(s) and may also coincide with a wave of patients hospitalized with seasonal influenza. This paper discusses relevant and practical elements of cessation and safe resumption of nonemergent neurointerventional services in the setting of a pandemic.

Radiation exposure in the endovascular therapy of cranial and spinal dural arteriovenous fistula in the last decade: a retrospective, single-center observational study

PurposeThis study aims to determine local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in the endovascular therapy (EVT) of patients with cranial and spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF).MethodsIn a retrospective study design, DRLs and achievable dose (AD) were assessed for all patients with cranial and spinal dAVF undergoing EVT (I) or diagnostic angiography (II). All procedures were performed at the flat-panel angiography-system Allura Xper (Philips Healthcare). Interventional procedures were differentiated according to the region of fistula and the type of procedure.ResultsIn total, 264 neurointerventional procedures of 131 patients with dAVF (94 cranial, 37 spinal) were executed between 02/2010 and 12/2020. The following DRLs, AD, and mean values could be determined: for cranial dAVF (I) DRL 507.33 Gy cm2, AD 369.79 Gy cm2, mean 396.51 Gy cm2; (II) DRL 256.65 Gy cm2, AD 214.19 Gy cm2, mean 211.80 Gy cm2; for spinal dAVF (I) DRL 482.72 Gy cm2, AD 275.98 Gy cm2, mean 347.12 Gy cm2; (II) DRL 396.39 Gy cm2, AD 210.57 Gy cm2, mean 299.55 Gy cm2. Dose levels of EVT were significantly higher compared to diagnostic angiographies (p < 0.001). No statistical difference in dose levels regarding the localization of dAVF was found.ConclusionOur results could be used for establishing DRLs in the EVT of cranial and spinal dAVF. Because radiation exposure to comparably complex interventions such as AVM embolization is similar, it may be useful to determine general DRLs for both entities together.

Aortic arch anomalies, embryology and their relevance in neuro-interventional surgery and stroke: A review.

Congenital aortic arch anomalies are commonly encountered during neurointerventional procedures. While some anomalies are identified at an early age, many are incidentally discovered later in adulthood during endovascular evaluations or interventions. Proper understanding of the normal arch anatomy and its variants is pivotal to safely navigate normal aortic arch branches and to negotiate the catheter through anomalies during neurointerventional procedures. This is particularly relevant in the increasingly "transradial first" culture of neurointerventional surgery. Moreover, some of these anomalies have a peculiar predilection for complications including aneurysm formation, dissection, and rupture during the procedure. Therefore, an understanding of these anomalies, their underlying embryological basis and associations, and pattern of circulation will help endovascular neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists navigate with confidence and consider relevant pathologic associations that may inform risk of cerebrovascular disease. Here, we present a brief review of the basic embryology of the common anomalies of the aortic arch along with their neurological significances and discuss, through illustrative cases, the association of aortic arch anomalies with cerebral vascular pathology. Understanding the aortic arch anomalies and its embryological basis is essential to safely navigate the cerebral vascular system during neurointerventional surgeries.

Common ground, different path: Ulnar artery access for interventional neurovascular procedures.

Recently, radial artery access has gained popularity for interventional neurovascular procedures due to patient comfort and fewer complications. However, there are instances where the radial artery approach is not feasible. In such cases, trans-ulnar artery access (TUA) can offer an alternate route. There is limited data regarding neuro-interventional procedures performed via this approach. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of trans-ulnar approach for a wide range of interventional neurovascular procedures. The data for all patients who underwent ulnar artery access for diagnostic or interventional neuroradiology procedures was retrospectively collected between September 2020 and March 2021. Patient demographics, procedural details, procedure success, and complications were recorded. During the study period, 23 patients underwent 24 trans-ulnar approach procedures. The mean age of patients was 50.1 ± 14.2 years. Fourteen diagnostic cerebral angiograms and ten interventional procedures were performed. All procedures were successfully completed via trans-ulnar approach without a switch to alternate access. No major access site complication was observed. Ulnar artery access is a safe and feasible option for neurovascular procedures. It can be effectively utilized for diagnostic cerebral angiography and a wide range of interventional procedures.

A comparison of radial versus femoral artery access for acute stroke interventions.

In this study, the authors aimed to investigate procedural and clinical outcomes between radial and femoral artery access in patients undergoing thrombectomy for acute stroke. The authors conducted a single-institution retrospective analysis of 104 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy, 52 via transradial access and 52 via traditional transfemoral access. They analyzed various procedural and clinical metrics between the two patient cohorts. There was no difference between patient demographics or presenting symptoms of stroke severity between patients treated via transradial or transfemoral access. The mean procedural time was similar between the two treatment cohorts: 60.35 ± 36.81 minutes for the transradial group versus 65.50 ± 29.92 minutes for the transfemoral group (p = 0.451). The mean total fluoroscopy time for the procedure was similar between the two patient cohorts (20.31 ± 11.68 for radial vs 18.49 ± 11.78 minutes for femoral, p = 0.898). The majority of patients underwent thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b/3 revascularization, regardless of access site (92.3% for radial vs 94.2% for femoral, p = 0.696). There was no significant difference in the incidence of access site or periprocedural complications between the transradial and transfemoral cohorts. Acute stroke intervention performed via transradial access is feasible and effective, with no significant difference in procedural and clinical outcomes compared with traditional transfemoral access. Larger studies are required to further validate the efficacy and limitations of transradial access for neurointerventional procedures.

Wrist Extension Does Not Change the Position of the Radial Artery: Cadaveric Study With Application to Arterial Line Placement, and Transradial Neurointerventional Procedures

The radial artery is gaining popularity as a vascular access site for neurointerventional procedures. However, recent analyses of wrist position and radial artery anatomy has suggested that the extended position of the wrist is not always necessary. Therefore, the following cadaveric study was performed to verify these findings. Twenty adult cadaveric upper limbs underwent dissection of the radial artery. The radial artery was exposed but left in its anatomical position. With the hand supinated, the wrist was extended to 45 degrees and 90 degrees. Observations were then made of any movement of the artery during these ranges of motion. Next, a tension gauge was attached to the radial artery and any tension on the artery measured during the above noted ranges of motion. During extension of the wrist, none of the radial artery specimens was found to move in any direction. Moreover, an average of only 0.28 N of tension on the artery was found with wrist extension up to 90 degrees. Our cadaveric study found that, contrary to popular belief, extension of the wrist during cannulation of the radial artery does not change the position of the artery nor does it significantly alter the tension on the artery. These data support several recent clinical studies.

ISOLATED BENZODIAZEPINE TOXICITY AND THE USE OF FLUMAZENIL: AN EYE-OPENING ANTIDOTE CASE REPORT IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Since its debut in the 1960s, the broad use and availability of benzodiazepines has mirrored the increased incidence of overdose cases. Due to its non-specic presentation, there is often a delay in diagnosis. We report a case of Benzodiazepine toxicity in a 70-year-old man who presented to us in a comatose state. He was evaluated at another hospital initially and was intubated in view of his low Glasgow Coma scale. A CT brain plain study was done suspecting a basilar artery thrombus and he was referred to us for Neuro-Interventional procedures. As radiological, laboratory and electrophysiological investigations were unremarkable a provisional diagnosis of drug intoxication was made after patient medication review and a trial of Flumazenil was given, after which the patient had improved dramatically. Flumazenil is not routinely used due to fears of withdrawal seizures and its high cost. It also has no effect on reversing sedation caused by barbiturates, ethanol, or opioids. The antidote has a favorable risk-benet ratio when dosed appropriately and can be a helpful diagnostic tool after ruling out the more common causes of acute sensorium loss as demonstrated by this case report.

Augmented reality enhanced tele-proctoring platform to intraoperatively support a neuro-endovascular surgery fellow.

Remote tele-proctoring has been conducted in neuro-endovascular surgery, however, evidence to support its use in the fellowship training is limited. We demonstrate a novel augmented reality tele-proctoring platform to enable a remote attending to guide a fellow. A consecutive series of neuro-endovascular cases were performed by a neuro-endovascular fellow with remote guidance from an attending surgeon. The fellow and attending were connected using a commercially available cloud-based platform designed to capture and stream up to four live video feeds from a clinical environment to a remote user. In this setting, two video streams were obtained directly from the anteroposterior and lateral cameras on the biplane. Additional video of the operator from a telescopic camera was streamed live to the remote attending surgeon. The attending could provide immediate vocal feedback and also deploy the platform's augmented reality tools to communicate with the fellow in the angiography suite. A total of 10 cases were performed on eight patients utilizing the cloud-based tele-proctoring platform to facilitate instruction. The series included diagnostic angiograms and interventions such as intracranial balloon angioplasty, carotid stenting, and intracranial stenting. All cases were a technical success. No complications or deaths occurred. When compared to similar cohort of 10 cases prior to these which utilized a traditional instruction paradigm; we saw no differences in contrast use (p = 0.38), fluoroscopy time (p = 0.85), or technical success. This study demonstrates successful use of an augmented reality tele-proctoring platform to guide a neuro-endovascular fellow through complex neuro-interventional procedures from a remote setting.

Prasugrel anti-ischemic effect in rats: Modulation of hippocampal SUMO2/3-IкBα/Ubc9 and SIRT-1/miR-22 trajectories

The beneficial role of prasugrel, a P2Y12 receptor blocker, in several neurointerventional procedures has been reviewed clinically. Beyond its antiplatelet capacity, the potential neuroprotective mechanisms of prasugrel are poorly addressed experimentally. Relevant to the imbalance between neuro-inflammation and neuroprotective pathways in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), our study evaluated the anti-ischemic potential of prasugrel treatment through tackling novel targets. Male Wistar rats were allocated into 2 sets; set 1 (I/R 60 min/3 days) to assess the neurological deficits/biochemical impact of prasugrel and set 2 (I/R 60 min/5 days) for evaluating short memory/morphological/immunoreactive changes. Each set comprised 4 groups designated as sham, sham + prasugrel, I/R, and I/R + prasugrel. Post-administration of prasugrel for 3 and 5 days reduced neurological deficit scores and improved the spontaneous activity/short term spatial memory using the Y-maze paradigm. On the molecular level, prasugrel turned off SUMO2/3-inhibitory kappa (Iκ)Bα, Ubc9 and nuclear factor kappa (NF-κ)B. Besides, it inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) and inactivated astrocytes by downregulating the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) hippocampal immune-expression. Conversely, it activated its target molecule cAMP, protein kinase (PK)A, and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) to enhance the brain-derived nuclear factor (BDNF) hippocampal content. Additionally, cAMP/PKA axis increased the hippocampal content of deacetylator silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and the micro RNA (miR)-22 gene expression. The crosstalk between these paths partakes in preserving hippocampal cellularity. Accordingly, prasugrel, regardless inhibiting platelets activity, modulated other cellular components; viz., SUMO2/3-IκBα/Ubc9/NF-κB, cAMP/PKA related trajectories, CREB/BDNF and SIRT1/miR-22 signaling, besides inhibiting GFAP and MDA to signify its anti-ischemic potential.

Safety of Low Dose Intravenous Cangrelor in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Case Series.

Background: Neurointerventional procedures in acute ischemic stroke often require immediate antiplatelet therapy in the cases of acute stenting and occasionally re-occluding vessels. Intravenous cangrelor is a P2Y12 receptor antagonist with short onset and quick offset. The study objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous cangrelor in patients with acute ischemic stroke requiring urgent antiplatelet effect.Methods: Patients who received intravenous cangrelor intra-procedurally during acute ischemic stroke treatment were identified from a prospectively collected database. Cangrelor was administered as a bolus of 15 mcg/kg, followed by an infusion rate of 2 mcg/kg/min. A historical control group consisting of anterior circulation tandem occlusions was used to compare to patients with similar lesions who received intravenous cangrelor. Outcomes of interest included in-stent thrombosis, thromboembolic complications, intracranial hemorrhage, and functional outcomes at 90 days.Results: Twelve patients received intravenous cangrelor for acute ischemic stroke between October 2018 and April 2020 at a comprehensive stroke center. Eleven patients had intra or extracranial stenting performed, which included two posterior circulation lesions. No cases of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were reported. At 90 day follow-up, two patients had died and 10 had a good functional outcome. Patients with anterior circulation tandem occlusions who received cangrelor and those who received dual antiplatelets orally had similar radiographic and clinical outcomes.Conclusion: Low dose intravenous cangrelor is similar in safety and efficacy to oral antiplatelets in acute ischemic stroke in a small case series. Larger prospective studies on the efficacy, safety, and effect on procedure times of intravenous cangrelor in neurointervention are warranted.

O0006. Evaluation and Quantification of Macrophage Differentiation Markers in Intervertebral Disc Herniations – A Pilot Study

A concurrent arterial and venous access is routinely obtained for diagnosis and treatment of various neurovascular diseases. Traditionally, venous access is obtained by accessing the femoral vein or through direct internal jugular puncture. Although complication rates are low, life-threatening severe complications have been reported. Moreover, venous access can be challenging in large body habitus patients through these traditional routes. There is a growing trend of utilizing radial artery access for neuroendovascular procedures. Nevertheless, the use of upper limb veins in neurointerventional procedures is rare. We present 3 cases of the concurrent arterial and venous approach through the radial artery and cephalic or basilic vein of the forearm for diagnostic cerebral arteriography and venography. Radial access was obtained by using the standard technique, and venous access was obtained by cannulating cephalic or basilic vein using ultrasound guidance, and a 5F or 6F short sheath was placed. Venous angiography and catheterization of right and left internal jugular veins were then performed using a Simmons (SIM) 2 catheter alone or using 6F Envoy guide catheter coaxially over the SIM 2 catheter if an additional support for microcatheter was needed. Procedures were successfully completed with no adverse effects, and patients were discharged home the same day. We also describe the technique for the reformation of the SIM 2 catheter in the venous system for catheterization of right and left internal jugular veins through the arm access.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Ferroptosis: Something Else that STICH Should Know?

A concurrent arterial and venous access is routinely obtained for diagnosis and treatment of various neurovascular diseases. Traditionally, venous access is obtained by accessing the femoral vein or through direct internal jugular puncture. Although complication rates are low, life-threatening severe complications have been reported. Moreover, venous access can be challenging in large body habitus patients through these traditional routes. There is a growing trend of utilizing radial artery access for neuroendovascular procedures. Nevertheless, the use of upper limb veins in neurointerventional procedures is rare. We present 3 cases of the concurrent arterial and venous approach through the radial artery and cephalic or basilic vein of the forearm for diagnostic cerebral arteriography and venography. Radial access was obtained by using the standard technique, and venous access was obtained by cannulating cephalic or basilic vein using ultrasound guidance, and a 5F or 6F short sheath was placed. Venous angiography and catheterization of right and left internal jugular veins were then performed using a Simmons (SIM) 2 catheter alone or using 6F Envoy guide catheter coaxially over the SIM 2 catheter if an additional support for microcatheter was needed. Procedures were successfully completed with no adverse effects, and patients were discharged home the same day. We also describe the technique for the reformation of the SIM 2 catheter in the venous system for catheterization of right and left internal jugular veins through the arm access.