Residual Aneurysm Research Articles

Ultrashort Echo Time Magnetic Resonance Angiography as an Alternative Tool to Digital Subtraction Angiography in the Follow-up of Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization Outcomes.

Follow-up of aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization has been performed using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) because in time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography, metal artifacts from the stent often affect visualization. To confirm whether ultrashort echo time (TE) MRA may be an alternative for DSA during follow-up. Patients with unruptured aneurysms initially treated with stent-assisted coil embolization between April 2019 and March 2021 were enrolled. After 3 months of treatment, follow-up DSA and ultrashort TE MRA were performed. All images were independently reviewed by neurosurgeons to evaluate in-stent flow and rated from 1 (not visible) to 4 (excellent). Aneurysmal embolization status was assessed as complete obliteration, residual neck, or residual aneurysm. Ultrashort TE MRA findings were classified as evaluative or nonevaluative state based on the presence of metal artifacts. We investigated the types of aneurysms that were evaluative and the agreement between ultrashort TE and DSA. Overall, 89 aneurysms were examined, of which 74% (n = 66) were classified as evaluative on ultrashort TE. Significant differences were observed in size and stent type. Evaluative cases had an aneurysm size of <7 mm ( P = .0007) and a higher rate of Neuroform Atlas ( P = .0006). The rate of agreement between ultrashort TE with evaluative state and DSA was 95%. Ultrashort TE MRA could evaluate an embolization status treated with stenting, and the findings are in excellent agreement with those of DSA. Aneurysms measuring <7 mm and treated with Neuroform Atlas are evaluative on ultrashort TE, and DSA might not be necessary.

Effects of stent-assisted coiling in comparison with flow diversion on intracranial aneurysms.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and complications of stent-assisted coiling in comparison with flow diversion for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Patients with wide-necked intracranial aneurysms who were treated with stent-assisted coiling or flow diversion were respectively, enrolled into the stent-assisted coiling or flow diversion treatment group. The clinical and angiographic data were analyzed. A total of 61 patients with intracranial aneurysms underwent stent-assisted coiling, including 35 (57.4%) female and 26 (42.6%) male patients with 21 (34.4%) ruptured and 40 (65.6%) unruptured aneurysms. Also, 53 patients underwent deployment of flow-diverting devices, including 30 (56.6%) female and 23 (43.4%) male patients with 25 (47.2%) ruptured and 28 (52.8%) unruptured aneurysms. Stent-assisted coiling was performed successfully in 60 patients with 63 stents deployed, and immediate aneurysm occlusion was complete occlusion in 38 (62.3%) aneurysms, residual neck in 12 (19.7%), and residual aneurysm in 10 (16.4%). Procedure-related complications included in-stent thrombosis in three (4.9%) patients, coil protrusion in three (4.9%), and re-rupture of one (1.6%) aneurysm, with a total complication rate of 11.5%. In the flow diversion group, a pipeline embolization device alone was deployed in each of the 24 (45.3%) patients, adjunctive coiling combined with a pipeline device in 29 (54.7%), and double pipeline devices in each of the 6 (11.3%) patients. Immediately after treatment, complete occlusion was achieved in 3 (5.7%) patients with adjunctive coiling, residual neck in 3 (5.7%), and residual aneurysm in 47 (88.7%). Procedure-related complications included aneurysm rebleeding in one patient (1.9%). Clinical and angiographic follow-up was performed 13-49 months (median 29) after the procedure for 49 (80.3%) patients with stent-assisted coiling, with complete aneurysm occlusion in 27 (55.1%) aneurysms, residual neck in 3 (6.1%), residual aneurysm in 5 (10.2%), and recurrence in 14 (28.6%). Follow-up was performed for 14-37 (median 25) months in 45 (84.9%) patients with flow diversion treatment, with complete occlusion in 39 (86.7%) patients, residual neck in 5 (11.1%), residual aneurysm in 1 (2.2%), and no aneurysm recurrence. Stent-assisted coiling comes with more complications but fewer permanent aneurysm occlusions than flow diverters, and flow diverters are superior to stent-assisted coiling in the treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, especially in the long-term effect.

Application of branch-first technique in total thoracic aorta replacement: short and medium term effect of 11 cases

Objective: To examine the short and medium term effect of branch-first technique in total thoracic aorta replacement. Methods: The clinical data of eleven patients with ascending aortic aneurysms or type A aortic dissection+Crawford Ⅰ or Ⅱ total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm who were treated at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery in Henan Province Chest Hospital from January 2018 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 4 females, aging (38±5) years (range: 28 to 45 years), 7 cases of whom were diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, 1 case was diagnosed with coarctation of aorta. Operations were performed under mild hypothermic and branch-first technique. Firstly, the middle and small incision in the chest was combined with the 6th intercostal incision in the left posterior lateral side. Secondly, four branches artificial blood vessels were anastomosed with the brachiocephalic artery to ensure the blood supply to the brain. After the circulation was blocked, intracardiac and aortic proximal operations were performed. Intercostal artery reconstruction and thoracic descending aorta replacement were completed after opening circulation. Results: The operative time of this group was (645.9±91.7) minutes (range: 505 to 840 minutes). One case had cerebral infarction and 1 case had chylothorax. The patients were followed up 4 to 47 months, 1 patient underwent thoracic and abdominal aorta+iliac artery resection and replacement due to the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm 3 months after operation. Intercostal artery obstruction occurred in 2 cases, and the rest lived well. Conclusions: One-stage whole thoracic aorta replacement with branch-first technique has satisfactory results in the short and medium term, with no risk of residual aortic aneurysm rupture. It is an effective treatment for young and organs function well patients with complex aortic lesions.

Comparative effectiveness of stent-assisted coiling and Woven EndoBridge embolization for the treatment of unruptured wide-neck bifurcation intracranial aneurysms.

Woven EndoBridge (WEB) intrasaccular flow disruptors and stent-assisted coiling (SAC) are viable endovascular treatment options for wide-neck bifurcation intracranial aneurysms (WNBAs). Data directly comparing these two treatment options are limited. The authors aimed to compare radiographic occlusion rates and complication profiles between patients who received WEB and those who received SAC for WNBAs. Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained cerebrovascular procedural database was performed at a single academic medical center between 2017 and 2021. Patients were included if they underwent WEB embolization or SAC of an unruptured WNBA. SAC patients were propensity matched to WEB-embolized patients on the basis of aneurysm morphology. Complete and adequate (complete occlusion or residual neck remnant) occlusion rates at last angiographic follow-up, as well as periprocedural complications, were compared between the two groups. A cost comparison was performed for a typical 5-mm WNBA treated with WEB versus SAC by using manufacturer-suggested retail prices. Thirty-five WEB and 70 SAC patients were included. Aneurysm width, neck size, and dome-to-neck ratio were comparable between groups. Follow-up duration was significantly longer in the SAC group (median [interquartile range] 545 [202-834] days vs 228 [177-494] days, p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U-test). Complete (66% of WEB patients vs 69% of SAC patients) and adequate (94% WEB vs 91% SAC) occlusion rates were similar between groups at the last available angiographic follow-up (p = 0.744, chi-square test). Complete occlusion rates were comparable on Cox regression analysis after correction for follow-up duration (hazard ratio 1.5, 95% CI 0.8-3.1). Average time to residual aneurysm or neck formation was not statistically different between treatment groups (613 days for SAC patients vs 347 days for WEB patients, p = 0.225, log-rank test). Periprocedural complications trended higher in the SAC group (0% WEB vs 9% SAC, p = 0.175, Fisher exact test), although this finding was not significant. The equipment costs for a typical SAC case were estimated at $18,950, whereas the costs for a typical WEB device case were estimated at $18,630. Midterm complete and adequate occlusion rates were similar between patients treated with WEB and those treated with SAC. Given these comparable outcomes, there may be equipoise in treatment options for WNBAs.

Preliminary Experience of the Surpass Streamline Flow Diverter for Large and Giant Unruptured Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms.

As of January 2021, the Surpass Streamline (SS) is the most recently approved flow diverter in Japan. A total of 28 Japanese patients, including 9 clinical trial patients, with 28 large or giant unruptured internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms, underwent SS embolization at Juntendo University Hospital. Procedural failure occurred in two patients due to the difficulty to navigate the device in the tortuous parent artery. Therefore, 26 patients with 26 aneurysms were available for clinical and anatomical assessments. Patients' mean age was 62.6 years (range 46-86), and 24 patients (92.3%) were female. Mean aneurysm size and neck width were 15.4 mm and 7.7 mm, respectively, with 20 saccular and 6 fusiform aneurysms. Seven aneurysms were symptomatic due to the aneurysmal mass effect. Twenty patients underwent a 6-month follow-up angiography to evaluate the degree of occlusion. Anatomical outcomes were 12 (60%) complete occlusion (CO), 4 (20%) residual neck (RN), and 4 (20%) residual aneurysm. Favorable aneurysm occlusion consisted of CO, and RN was achieved in 16 (80.0%). There were no significant device stenoses. Aneurysmal mass effect improved in one and was unchanged in eight patients. There were three device-related complications, namely, delayed aneurysm rupture, minor ischemic stroke, and device occlusion (11.5%). One patient with minor ischemic stroke fully recovered before 30 days, and our series showed 7.7% risk of major ipsilateral stroke and neurological death at 30 days. The SS embolization for large and giant unruptured ICA aneurysms offers satisfactory anatomical and clinical outcomes with a low risk of device-related complications.

Combined endovascular and microsurgical treatment of multiple cerebral aneurysms

Recent advances in interventional neuroradiology brought all multiple cerebral aneurysms (MCA) could be occluded using endovascular techniques. A multimodal approach (combined microsurgical and endovascular) should be considered as a possible treatment option for MCA to improve treatment outcomes by simplifying the technical complexity of endovascular occlusion and providing sustained long-term occlusion.Objective ‒ to analyze the results of combined microsurgical and endovascular treatment of MCA.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the results of evaluation and surgical treatment of 172 patients with MCA in Scientific-practical Center of Endovascular Neuroradiology NAMS of Ukraine from April 2016 to February 2022. In 7 (4.1 %) patients, combined endovascular and microsurgical treatment of MCA was done.Results. In 7 patients (4 women and 3 men, mean age ‒ 39.3 years), 19 aneurysms (size from 3 to 15 mm) were detected, of which 15 (78.9 %) were located in the anterior semicircle, 4 (21.1 % ) ‒ in the posterior. All aneurysms of the basilar circulation were excluded using endovascular approach. In 4 (57.1 %) patients, the aneurysms were ruptured. Ten (52.6 %) aneurysms were occluded endovascularly (6 with coil s only, 2 with balloon-assisted coiling, 1 with stent-assisted coiling, and 1 with flow-deverter stent), 9 (47.4 %) aneurysms were clipped. One (5.3 %) periprocedural complication after endovascular treatment was noted ‒ prolapse of the coil into the vessel. In 2 (22.2 %) cases, residual aneurysm was detected after clipping, which was occluded with coils. The rate of total aneurysm occlusion at discharge was 94.7 %. All patients were discharged from the hospital with favorable results (score ≤2 points on the modified Rankine scale). Stable effective occlusion after 3 months was noted in 17 (89.5 %) aneurysms, 2 (10.5 %) aneurysms were filled at the level of the neck.Conclusions. Combined endovascular and microsurgical treatment is a technically feasible treatment option for MCA and is considered in patients where the conventional approach with either method has failed or is associated with a high risk of complications. Our series has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of combined MCA treatment.

Sequential Flow Diversion After Nitinol Stent Placement for a Large, Matricidal Cavernous Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm: Technical Video.

The Surpass Evolve flow diverter is a novel 64-wire braided intravascular stent approved to treat unruptured large or giant saccular wide-neck or fusiform intracranial aneurysms of the intracranial internal carotid artery.1-3 Flow diverting stents have been used for the treatment of previously stented aneurysms, including residual aneurysms following prior flow diversion.5-8 This patient initially presented with a large symptomatic matricidal cavernous ICA aneurysm4 that was treated with stand-alone Neuroform Atlas stenting at an outside hospital. Here we present a video demonstrating the placement of sequential Surpass Evolve flow diverter stents within a Neuroform Atlas nitinol stent.

Treatment results of anterior choroidal artery aneurysms treated mostly with coil embolization: A single-center experience.

Anterior choroidal artery (AchA) aneurysms are usually small in diameter because of the size of the involved artery and are often wide-necked. Coil embolization of AchA aneurysm is thus challenging because of serious risks, such as thromboembolic occlusion of artery and perforation of aneurysm dome. Therefore, aneurysmal neck clipping remains widely performed despite a recent increase in the use of coil embolization for aneurysm treatment. We report the treatment results of AchA aneurysms mostly (92.3%) treated with coil embolization at our institute. The database and medical records of patients who underwent coil embolization for AchA aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical and imaging results and procedure-related complications were investigated after coil embolization performed between January 2006 and March 2022 at our institute. In total, 96 AchA aneurysms comprising 65 unruptured and 31 ruptured aneurysms, including only 1 ruptured aneurysm (1.0%) re-embolized at postoperative day 192 because of coil compaction, were evaluated. After the initial coil embolization, complete occlusion was attained in 41, residual neck in 45, and residual aneurysm in 10 patients. Follow-up radiological studies after 6-174 months were performed for 80 aneurysms. Complete occlusion was noted in 57 patients, residual neck in 22, and residual aneurysm in 1. The dysarthria experienced by one (1.0%) patient was the only symptomatic procedure-related complication. After coil embolization, neither delayed new rupture nor re-rupture was observed. The results of this study demonstrate that coil embolization is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with AchA aneurysms.

Factors predicting effective aneurysm early obliteration after flow re-direction endoluminal device placement for unruptured intracranial cerebral aneurysms

ObjectiveThere have been few reports of the outcomes of flow re-direction endoluminal device (FRED) treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms, and patient factors associated with effective aneurysm obliteration have yet to be determined. Flow diverters also have problems with delayed rupture. The objective of this study was to investigate associations between the cases of early obliteration of aneurysm after FRED treatment and a range of factors. MethodA retrospective analysis of 75 aneurysms in 72 patients whose response to treatment was evaluated by cerebral angiography 6 months after FRED treatment was conducted. The aneurysm obliteration rate was classified according to the O'Kelly-Marotta grading scale (OKM grade). The patients were classified into those assessed as OKM Grade A or Grade B with poor aneurysm obliteration (poor obliteration), and those assessed as Grade C or Grade D with good aneurysm obliteration (good obliteration). The parameters evaluated were age, sex, medical history, immediate postoperative eclipse sign, P2Y12 reaction units (PRU), aspirin reaction units (ARU), operating time, maximum aneurysm diameter measured on cerebral angiography, and aneurysm location. ResultsAt 6 months post-treatment, 19 aneurysms (25.3%) were OKM Grade A, 15 (20%) were Grade B, 10 (13.3%) were Grade C, and 31 (41.3%) were Grade D. Age ≥67.5 years was significantly associated with a poor obliteration [odds ratio (OR): 0.1; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.2-0.4; p=0.002] and intracranial side wall aneurysm [OR: 21.7; 95%CI: 1.6–284.5; p=0.01]. ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrated that age was associated with aneurysm obliteration after FRED treatment. This finding may be useful for further studies investigating factors predictive of the aneurysm obliteration rate and the residual aneurysm rate after FRED treatment.

Flow Diversion in the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Pragmatic Randomized Care Trial.

Flow diversion is a recent endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms. We compared the safety and efficacy of flow diversion with the alternative standard management options. A parallel group, prerandomized, controlled, open-label pragmatic trial was conducted in 3 Canadian centers. The trial included all patients considered for flow diversion. A Web-based platform 1:1 randomly allocated patients to flow diversion or 1 of 4 alternative standard management options (coiling with/without stent placement, parent vessel occlusion, surgical clipping, or observation) as prespecified by clinical judgment. Patients ineligible for alternative standard management options were treated with flow diversion in a registry. The primary safety outcome was death or dependency (mRS > 2) at 3 months. The composite primary efficacy outcome included the core lab-determined angiographic presence of a residual aneurysm, aneurysm rupture, progressive mass effect during follow-up, or death or dependency (mRS > 2) at 3-12 months. Between May 2011 and November 2020, three hundred twenty-three patients were recruited: Two hundred seventy-eight patients (86%) had treatment randomly allocated (139 to flow diversion and 139 to alternative standard management options), and 45 (14%) received flow diversion in the registry. Patients in the randomized trial frequently had unruptured (83%), large (52% ≥10 mm) carotid (64%) aneurysms. Death or dependency at 3 months occurred in 16/138 patients who underwent flow diversion and 12/137 patients receiving alternative standard management options (relative risk, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.65-2.69; P = .439). A poor primary efficacy outcome was found in 30.9% (43/139) with flow diversion and 45.6% (62/136) of patients receiving alternative standard management options, with an absolute risk difference of 14.7% (95% CI, 3.3%-26.0%; relative risk, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50-0.92; P = .014). For patients with mostly unruptured, large, anterior circulation (carotid) aneurysms, flow diversion was more effective than the alternative standard management option in terms of angiographic outcome.

Intrasaccular flow disruption for brain aneurysms: a systematic review of long-term outcomes.

The long-term safety and efficacy of intrasaccular flow disruption (IFD) for the treatment of brain aneurysms remain unclear. With accumulating experience and increasing use of IFD devices, recent studies have provided additional data regarding their outcomes. This review summarizes the long-term outcomes of IFD-treated brain aneurysms. A systematic literature review was performed on May 23, 2021, in PubMed, Web of Science, and Ovid MEDLINE for aneurysm treatment outcomes with IFD devices. Procedural details, including use of adjunctive devices and complications, were collected. The quality of studies was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Angiographic outcomes were classified as complete occlusion, residual neck, and residual aneurysm. Other outcomes included need for retreatment, permanent neurological deficit, and mortality. Pooled analyses were performed. The final analysis comprised 1217 patients with 1249 aneurysms from 22 studies. The mean aneurysm diameter and neck width were 6.9 and 4.5 mm, respectively, and 27.6% of aneurysms were ruptured. The complete occlusion rates at 12 months and final follow-up (pooled mean duration 15.7 months) were 50.1% and 58.2%, respectively. Adjunctive devices were used in 6.4% of cases. The rates of hemorrhage, symptomatic infarction, permanent neurological deficit, and mortality were 1.2%, 2.8%, 1.0%, and 2.6%, respectively. IFD is a very safe treatment for appropriately selected brain aneurysms with low complication and neurological deterioration rates. However, complete occlusion is achieved in only half of IFD-treated aneurysms at 1 year with a modest increase beyond this time point. As the majority of the studies were single arm, the pooled data are subject to selection and reporting biases. Future device developments, increased operator experience, and direct comparisons with alternative endovascular strategies and surgical clipping may clarify the role of IFD in aneurysm management.

CLinical Assessment of WEB device in Ruptured aneurYSms (CLARYS): 12-month angiographic results of a multicenter study

BackgroundThe CLinical Assessment of WEB device in Ruptured aneurYSms (CLARYS) study has shown that the endovascular treatment of ruptured bifurcation aneurysms with the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) is safe and effective...

Treatment of middle cerebral artery aneurysms: A comparative study and proposed treatment algorithm.

We aimed to compare outcomes of patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms treated by either microsurgical clipping or endovascular therapy and provide a treatment algorithm based on available evidence. We performed a retrospective analysis of 77 patients with 95 MCA aneurysms. Demographic, clinical, and aneurysm morphological variables were collected. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the received treatment. Clinical and radiological outcomes were collected at the end of a 1-year follow-up period and compared between both treatment groups. Mean age was 51.4 years. Fifty patients (65%) underwent microsurgical clipping and 27 (35%) were treated by endovascular therapy. Fifty-four patients (70%) presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, while 23 (30%) were treated for unruptured aneurysms. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage were more frequently treated by microsurgical clipping than patients with unruptured aneurysms. Clinical outcomes, including functional status, were similar between treatment groups after 1-year follow-up even when adjusting for clinical presentation. Residual aneurysms were found less frequently in the microsurgical group (OR = 0.09; p < 0.001). In patients with MCA aneurysms, clinical outcomes at 1 year are similar between microsurgical clipping and endovascular therapy. However, microsurgery is associated with a lower risk of residual aneurysms.

Microsurgical treatment of ruptured aneurysms beyond 72hours after rupture: implications for advanced management.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients admitted to primary stroke centers are often transferred to neurosurgical and endovascular services at tertiary centers. The effect on microsurgical outcomes of the resultant delay in treatment is unknown. We evaluated microsurgical aSAH treatment > 72h after the ictus. All aSAH patients treated at a single tertiary center between August 1, 2007, and July 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. The additional inclusion criterion was the availability of treatment data relative to time of bleed. Patients were grouped based on bleed-to-treatment time as having acute treatment (on or before postbleed day [PBD] 3) or delayed treatment (on or after PBD 4). Propensity adjustments were used to correct for statistically significant confounding covariables. Among 956 aSAH patients, 92 (10%) received delayed surgical treatment (delayed group), and 864 (90%) received acute endovascular or surgical treatment (acute group). Reruptures occurred in 3% (26/864) of the acute group and 1% (1/92) of the delayed group (p = 0.51). After propensity adjustments, the odds of residual aneurysm (OR = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.04-0.17; p < 0.001) or retreatment (OR = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.06-0.29; p < 0.001) was significantly lower among the delayed group. The OR was 0.50 for rerupture, after propensity adjustments, in the delayed setting (p = 0.03). Mean Glasgow Coma Scale scores at admission in the acute and delayed groups were 11.5 and 13.2, respectively (p < 0.001). Delayed microsurgical management of aSAH, if required for definitive treatment, appeared to be noninferior with respect to retreatment, residual, and rerupture events in our cohort after adjusting for initial disease severity and significant confounding variables.

Differential Subsampling with Cartesian Ordering-MRA for Classifying Residual Treated Aneurysms.

Differential Subsampling with Cartesian Ordering (DISCO), an ultrafast high-spatial-resolution head MRA, has been introduced. We aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of DISCO-MRA in grading residual aneurysm in comparison with TOF-MRA in patients with treated intracranial aneurysms. Patients with endovascular treatment and having undergone DISCO-MRA, TOF-MRA, and DSA were included for review. The voxel size and acquisition time were 0.75 × 0.75 × 1 mm3/6 seconds for DISCO-MRA and 0.6 × 0.6 × 1 mm3/6 minutes for TOF-MRA. Residual aneurysms were determined using the Modified Raymond-Roy Classification on TOF-MRA and DISCO-MRA by 2 neuroradiologists independently and were compared against DSA as the reference standard. Statistical analysis was performed using the κ statistic and the χ2 test. Sixty-eight treated intracranial aneurysms were included. The intermodality agreement was κ = 0.82 (95% CI, 0.67-0.97) between DISCO and DSA and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.28-0.61) between TOF and DSA. Modified Raymond-Roy Classification scores matched DSA scores in 60/68 cases (88%; χ2 = 144.4, P < .001 for DISCO and 46/68 cases (68%; χ2 = 65.0, P < .001) for TOF. The diagnostic accuracy for the detection of aneurysm remnants was higher for DISCO (0.96; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99) than for TOF (0.79; 95% CI, 0.68-0.88). In patients with endovascularly treated intracranial aneurysms, DISCO-MRA provides superior diagnostic performance in comparison with TOF-MRA in delineating residual aneurysms in a fraction of the time.

Feasibility of intraoperative MRI for endovascular coiling of intracranial aneurysms: A single centre experience.

Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging system (iMRIS) surgical theatre is a highly integrated operating room with an intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) designed originally for brain tumour surgery. Its use in neurointerventional procedures, particularly in the setting of endovascular coiling of intracranial aneurysms, has not been discussed in the literature to date. We present our initial experience about the safety and feasibility of iMRI to assess post operative complications and provide baseline imaging post coiling of intracranial aneurysms. Consecutive patients who underwent iMRI between 2015 and 2018 were included in the study. Demographic, clinical details, endovascular technique and surgical outcomes were collected. Details of anesthesia during the procedure were also collected. Fifteen patients underwent iMRI with MRA to assess post coiling status of their elective endovascular coiling of intracranial aneurysms. The mean age in this cohort was 61 years and 46.7% were male. No immediate complications were seen either from the endovascular procedures or from the iMRI. All iMRI scans were performed as planned with no aborted or truncated scans. The image quality of the iMRI/MRA was adequate to detect the residual aneurysm, if present. There was no residual aneurysm on the angiogram that were not detected on the iMRIs. Of the 15 patients, 10 were safely discharged the following day and other 5 were discharged 2 days after their surgery. The iMRI is an advantageous tool which can be integrated into neurointerventional workflow resulting in early post peri-procedural feedback and potentially reduced post-operative hospital stay.

A comparative propensity-adjusted analysis of microsurgical versus endovascular treatment of unruptured ophthalmic artery aneurysms.

Ophthalmic artery (OA) aneurysms are surgically challenging lesions that are now mostly treated using endovascular procedures. However, in specialized tertiary care centers with experienced neurosurgeons, controversy remains regarding the optimal treatment of these lesions. This study used propensity adjustment to compare microsurgical and endovascular treatment of unruptured OA aneurysms in experienced tertiary and quaternary settings. The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent microsurgical treatment of an unruptured OA aneurysm at the University of California, San Francisco, from 1997 to 2017 and either microsurgical or endovascular treatment at Barrow Neurological Institute from 2011 to 2019. Patients were categorized into two cohorts for comparison: those who underwent open microsurgical clipping, and those who underwent endovascular flow diversion or coil embolization. Outcomes included neurological or visual outcomes, residual or recurrent aneurysms, retreatment, and severe complications. A total of 345 procedures were analyzed: 247 open microsurgical clipping procedures (72%) and 98 endovascular procedures (28%). Of the 98 endovascular procedures, 16 (16%) were treated with primary coil embolization and 82 (84%) with flow diversion. After propensity adjustment, microsurgical treatment was associated with higher odds of a visual deficit (OR 8.5, 95% CI 1.1-64.9, p = 0.04) but lower odds of residual aneurysm (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.28, p < 0.001) or retreatment (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.58, p = 0.008) than endovascular therapy. No difference was found between the two cohorts with regard to worse modified Rankin Scale score, modified Rankin Scale score greater than 2, or severe complications. Compared with endovascular therapy, microsurgical clipping of unruptured OA aneurysms is associated with a higher rate of visual deficits but a lower rate of residual and recurrent aneurysms. In centers experienced with both open microsurgical and endovascular treatment of these lesions, the treatment choice should be based on patient preference and aneurysm morphology.

Comparison between Digital Subtraction Angiography and Indocyanine Green Video Angiography in the Operative Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract Background Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is a fluoroscopy technique used in interventional radiology to clearly visualize blood vessels in a bony or dense soft tissue environment. Images are produced using contrast medium by subtracting a “pre-contrast image” or mask from subsequent images, once the contrast medium has been introduced into a structure, hence the term “Digital subtraction angiography.” Indocyanine green video angiography (ICG-VA) is a safe and practical method of real-time delineation of microvasculature used in the surgical management of intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and other vascular lesions. Intraoperative ICG-VA is used as an adjunct in addition to intraoperative or postoperative DSA, and in other cases, it is used as the sole method to confirm the complete obliteration of clipped intracranial aneurysm. The only limitation of ICG-VA is the nonvisibility of vessels that are not in the operative field. Intraoperative ICG is useful in the clipping of intracranial aneurysms to ensure a gross patency of branch vessels; however, the presence of residual aneurysms and subtle changes in flow in branch vessels is best seen by DSA. Methods ICG angiography was done during the surgery and the findings of intraoperative ICG angiography were compared with postoperative DSA that was done between 6 and 12 weeks. DSA was done to see any compromise of lumen of parent vessel by clip, any residual aneurysm. Results In our study, intraoperative ICG complete aneurysm obliteration was present in all 30 (100%) patients, while in postoperative DSA complete aneurysm obliteration was diagnosed in 27 (90.0%) patients. Parent vessel patency was present in all 30 (100.0%) patients in both intraoperative ICG-VA and postoperative DSA. In intraoperative ICG distal branch patency was present in 26 (86.7%) patients, while in postoperative DSA distal branch patency was diagnosed in 27 (90.0%) patients. Conclusion We compared the intraoperative ICG finding and postoperative DSA finding and found that DSA is more sensitive than ICG in depicting residual aneurysm neck, hence reducing the risk of rupture of the aneurysm in future. Intraoperative ICG has high special resolution reflex feedback, intraoperative repositioning time is less and thus critical ischemia time is reduced. In a developing country like ours where DSA facilities are limited, ICG can be optimal investigation to delineate the vascular anatomy and confirmation of clip position thus reducing mortality.

PulseRider-assisted embolization of a distal anterior cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm: illustrative case.

BACKGROUNDPulseRider is an endovascular device that can be a useful adjunctive device for wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. However, its use in distal vessels such as the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) has not been widely reported.OBSERVATIONSThe authors reported the case of a 75-year-old woman who underwent coiling of a 6.9-mm distal ACA aneurysm with PulseRider assistance. Using a partially intraaneurysmal deployment technique, the wide-necked aneurysm was successfully embolized, resulting in Raymond-Roy class II occlusion without intra- or periprocedural complications.LESSONSThis case illustrates a novel approach to treatment for wide-necked distal ACA aneurysms, which can be challenging to treat via traditional endovascular means. PulseRider can be safely used to treat distal ACA aneurysms with minimal residual aneurysm.

Retreatment of Residual and Recurrent Aneurysms After Embolization With the Woven EndoBridge Device: Multicenter Case Series.

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device (Terumno Corp. [parent company of Microvention]) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first intrasaccular device for intracranial aneurysm treatment in December 2018. Its use has become more common since then, but both trial results and postmarket experiences have raised questions about the efficacy in achieving complete aneurysm obliteration. Retreatment after WEB embolization has not been extensively discussed. To discuss the incidence and retreatment of aneurysms after initial WEB embolization. Retrospective review across 13 institutions identified all occurrences of WEB retreatment within neurovascular databases. Details regarding demographics, aneurysm characteristics, treatment considerations, clinical outcomes, and aneurysm occlusion were obtained and analyzed. Thirty aneurysms were retreated in 30 patients in a cohort of 342 WEB-treated aneurysms. The retreatment rate was 8.8%. Endovascular methods were used for 23 cases, and 7 were treated surgically. Two aneurysms presented with rehemorrhage after initial WEB embolization. Endovascular treatments included stent-assisted coiling (12), flow diversion (7), coiling (2), PulseRider (Johnson & Johnson)-assisted coiling (1), and additional WEB placement (1). Surgical treatments included primary clipping (6) and Hunterian ligation (1). There were no major complications within the study group. WEB retreatments were successfully performed by a variety of techniques, including stent-assisted coiling, clipping, and flow diversion as the most common. These procedures were performed safely with subsequent obliteration of most aneurysms. The potential need for retreatment of aneurysms should be considered during primary WEB treatments.