Endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial aneurysms are common, with an overall frequency ranging from 0.8% to 10%. Because prognosis after subarachnoid hemorrhage is still very poor, treatment of unruptured aneurysms, either neurosurgically or endovascularly, has been advocated. However, risk of rupture and subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage needs to be considered against the risks of elective treatment. We analyzed the technical feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endovascular treatment of a consecutive series of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. METHODS: From July 1997 through December 2000, a total of 76 patients with 82 unruptured cerebral aneurysms were treated at our institution. Endovascular treatment was administered to 39 consecutive patients with a total of 42 unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Thirty-six aneurysms were treated with an endovascular technique; in six patients, the parent artery was occluded to eliminate aneurysmal perfusion. Aneurysms were located either in the anterior (n = 31) or posterior (n = 11) circulation. Eight patients had experienced previous subarachnoid hemorrhage from other aneurysms and were treated electively after complete rehabilitation. Ten patients had neurologic symptoms; in 21 patients, the aneurysm was an incidental finding. Eighteen aneurysms were small (0-5 mm), 11 were medium (6-10 mm), nine were large (11-25 mm), and four were giant (> 25 mm). Occlusion rate was categorized as complete (100%), subtotal (95-99%), and incomplete (< 95%) obliteration. RESULTS: Endovascular treatment was technically feasible for 38 of 42 aneurysms. Complete (100%) or nearly complete (95-99%) occlusion was achieved in 34 of 38 aneurysms. In four aneurysms of the internal carotid artery, only incomplete (< 95%) occlusion was achieved. All patients except one with mild neurologic deficits according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale and one with mild memory dysfunction but no focal neurologic deficit achieved good recovery, resulting in a morbidity rate of 4.8% and a mortality rate of 0%. CONCLUSION: Endovascular embolization of unruptured cerebral aneurysms is an effective therapeutic alternative to neurosurgical clipping and is associated with low morbidity and mortality rates. For the management of unruptured aneurysms, endovascular treatment should be considered.     

The learning curve for coil embolization of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several studies have shown that procedural outcomes are better at high-volume institutions, possibly due to greater physician experience (learning) or practice (repetition). Our purpose was to determine whether outcomes for coil embolization improved with the experience of the practitioner, after adjusting for the perceived risk of treatment. METHODS: We identified all unruptured aneurysms treated with coil embolization at our institution from 1990 through 1997. A clinical nurse specialist abstracted the characteristics from cases that met the entry criteria. Two neurologists independently determined the complications by using definitions established a priori. The influence of experience of the treating-physician on complications was evaluated with univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Sixteen complications occurred in 94 patients (17%) treated with coil embolization. Complications occurred in 53% of the first five cases that each of three physicians treated, and in 10% of later cases (P <.001). After an adjustment for all other predictors, including physician assessment of the risk of the procedure, the odds of a complication decreased with increasing physician experience (odds ratio, 0.69 for every five cases treated; 95% confidence interval: 0.50, 0.96; P=.03). CONCLUSION: The risk of complications with coil embolization of unruptured aneurysms appears to decrease dramatically with physician experience. Because the physicians in this study were highly experienced in other endovascular techniques at study onset, the rate of learning may not be generalizable to other centers.     

Periprocedural morbidity and mortality associated with endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite experience and technological improvements, endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms still has inherent risks. We evaluated cerebral complications associated with this treatment. METHODS: From October 1998 to October 2002, 180 consecutive patients underwent 131 procedures for 118 ruptured aneurysms and 79 procedures for 72 unruptured aneurysms. We retrospectively reviewed their records and images to evaluate their morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (17.6%) procedure-related complications occurred: 27 and six with initial embolization of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, respectively, and four with re-treatment. Complications included 22 cerebral thromboembolisms, nine intraprocedural aneurysm perforations, two coil migrations, two parent vessel injuries, one postprocedural aneurysm rupture, and one cranial nerve palsy. Fourteen complications had no neurologic consequence. Three caused transient neurologic morbidity; 10, persistent neurologic morbidity; and 10, death. Procedure-related neurologic morbidity and mortality rates, respectively, were as follows: overall, 4.8% and 4.8%; ruptured aneurysms, 5.9% and 7.6%; unruptured aneurysms, 1.4% and 1.4%; and re-treated aneurysms, 10% and 0%. Combined procedure-related morbidity and mortality rates for ruptured, unruptured, and re-treated aneurysms were 13.5%, 2.8%, and 10%, respectively. Nonprocedural complications attributable to subarachnoid hemorrhage in 118 patients with ruptured aneurysm were early rebleeding before coil placement (0.9%), symptomatic vasospasm (5.9%), and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (5.9%); mortality from complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage itself was 11.9%. CONCLUSION: Procedural morbidity and mortality rates were highest in ruptured aneurysms and lowest in unruptured aneurysms. Morbidity rates were highest in re-treated aneurysms and lowest in unruptured aneurysms. No procedural mortality occurred with re-treated aneurysms. The main cause of morbidity and mortality was thromboembolism.     

可脱微弹簧圈栓塞术治疗颅内动脉瘤

目的 探讨颅内动脉瘤可脱微弹簧圈栓塞治疗术的效果。方法 经股动脉Seldinger穿刺法,将导引管送至C2以上,将微导管置于动脉瘤腔,结合不同的方式,进行可脱微弹簧圈栓塞动脉瘤。结果 36例用GDC,6例Metrix,18例DCS,2例ORBIT,3例EDC,4例配合支架栓塞;65例患者,59例康复,3例后遗偏瘫,1例自动出院,5例死亡。59例随访,头颅平片GDC均在瘤腔,无再出血,5例患者复查DSA,无复发。结论 微弹簧圈栓塞是治疗颅内动脉瘤微创有效安全的方法。     

Feasibility, procedural morbidity and mortality, and long-term follow-up of endovascular treatment of 321 unruptured aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the technical feasibility, morbidity and mortality, and durability of occlusion of unruptured aneurysms treated with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) with a long-term follow-up.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and January 2005, we treated 321 unruptured aneurysms with GDCs in 5 neuroradiologic institutions. During this period, 63% of unruptured aneurysms were treated by endovascular technique. Procedural feasibility, technical complications, morbidity and mortality, and acute and long-term angiographic occlusion were assessed.RESULTS: Overall technical feasibility of coiling treatment was 94%; 302 aneurysms were treated by endovascular technique. At the end of the initial procedure, acute occlusion was classified as complete in 207 cases (70%), subtotal in 84 cases (26.1%), and incomplete in 11 cases (3.9%). Ischemic complications were observed in 28 patients (9%); 8 patients (2.6%) had perforation of their aneurysms. Treatment-related morbidity was 14.4%, and morbidity with clinical complications was evaluated at 7.7% (n = 23 patients). Five patients (1.7%) died as a result of aneurysm perforation. Final follow-up angiograms, after 9 secondary treatments, demonstrated complete occlusion in 193 patients (69.5%), subtotal in 80 aneurysms (28.5%), and incomplete occlusion in 5 (1.8%). Nineteen patients were lost to follow-up (6.3%).CONCLUSION: Endovascular coiling with detachable coils is an attractive option for treatment of unruptured aneurysms. This method of treatment is safe with a low rate of complications. Prospective studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to assess the long-term durability of occlusion in unruptured aneurysms.

Asymptomatic aneurysms may be defined as incidental aneurysms found in patients with a symptomatic aneurysm (which are not responsible for the clinical presentation), patients imaged for reasons unrelated to aneurysms who happen to have an incidental aneurysm that was completely unexpected, and those found in patients investigated because they are at risk of harboring an aneurysm (familial aneurysm disease, polycystic kidney disease).^1–3 Incidental unruptured aneurysms are defined as those found unexpectedly in patients undergoing investigation for other suspected pathology.The management of unruptured aneurysms may include observation, surgery, endovascular embolization, or a combination of these. Since 1991 and the introduction of detachable coils and more recently the results of the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial,^4,5 endovascular treatment is an accepted alternative to surgical treatment of intracranial ruptured aneurysms. The question remains, however, as to which treatment offers the better outcome and what risks are involved. Surgical treatment, which has been in use for more than 40 years, has fairly clearly defined risks and morbidity.⁶ Endovascular treatment appears to offer lower risks but is still developing. Most recent evidence on the relative risks of treatment and of observation comes from the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA).⁷ The treating physician must weigh the natural history of aneurysms and the potential consequences of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with the efficacy, morbidity, and mortality of the intervention. Ideally, the morbidity and mortality rate of endovascular treatment should be lower than that of the natural history rupture rate. A measure of complications caused by the treatment itself would be ideal so that the impact of therapy could be isolated from other aspects of presentation or medical care.     

Endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and circulating endothelial cells

Objectives

To evaluate the potential implication of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in complications following endovascular treatment (EVT) of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. CECs characterized as CD146⁺/CD105⁺/CD45⁻/DAPI⁺ were considered to originate from an altered endothelial cell layer of the vessel wall.

Study design

In 15 patients, CECs were characterized and enumerated by the CellTracks^® System in blood samples from: (1) femoral artery (FA), (2) internal carotid artery (ICA) before (ICA₁) and after procedure (ICA₂), and (3) a peripheral vein before (PV₁) and after EVT (PV₂). Ischemic brain events were assessed using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI-MRI) before and 24 h after EVT.

Results

In ICA₁, the median number of single CECs and clusters of 2–5 CECs were higher than in FA, ICA₂, PV₁ and PV₂ samples (P < 0.001). Clusters >5 cells, sometimes >50 μm, were mainly observed in ICA₁ and never in PV₁, PV₂ or PV samples from ten healthy subjects. This distribution of CECs suggested femoral and ICA injury by the devices used, leading to endothelium shearing and desquamation of CECs. All patients discharged on day two (NIHSS score = 0), however silent ischemic brain lesions were observed in 9/15 (60%).

Conclusions

EVT detaches single and clusters of CECs from wall arteries that may be implicated in silent ischemic brain lesions genesis. Enumeration of CECs associated with DWI-MRI might represent an interesting strategy for monitoring and optimizing endovascular devices, and further limit EVT-related complications.     

In-hospital morbidity and mortality after endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the United States, 1996-2000: effect of hospital and physician volume

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular therapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Our purpose was to determine the risk of adverse outcomes after contemporary endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the United States. Patient, treating physician, and hospital characteristics were tested as potential outcome predictors, with particular attention paid to volume of care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1996-2000. Multivariate logistic and ordinal regressions were used with end points of mortality, discharge other than to home, length of stay, and total hospital charges. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-one patients underwent endovascular treatment at 81 hospitals. The in-hospital mortality rate was 1.7%, and 7.6% were discharged to institutions other than home. Analysis was adjusted for age, sex, race, primary payer, year of treatment, and four variables measuring acuity of treatment and medical comorbidity. Median annual number of unruptured aneurysms treated was nine per hospital and three per treating physician. Higher volume hospitals had fewer adverse outcomes; discharge other than to home occurred after 5.2% of operations at high volume hospitals (>23 admissions per year) compared with 17.6% at low volume hospitals (fewer than four admissions per year) (P<.001). Higher physician volume had a similar effect (0% versus 16.4%, P=.03). The mortality rate was lower at high volume hospitals (1.0% versus 3.7%) but not significantly so. At high volume hospitals, length of stay was shorter (P<.001) and total hospital charges were lower (P<.001). CONCLUSION: For patients with unruptured aneurysms treated in the United States from 1996 to 2000, endovascular treatment at high volume institutions or by high volume physicians was associated with significantly lower morbidity rates and modestly lower mortality rates. Length of stay was shorter and total hospital charges lower at high volume centers.     

33例颅内动脉瘤的血管内栓塞治疗

目的：总结用钨丝弹簧圈栓塞３３例颅内动脉瘤的体会。材料与方法：３３例中，前交通与后交通动脉瘤各１２例，大脑中动脉瘤４例，颈内动脉眼动脉段３例，小脑上动脉１例，基底动脉分叉部２例。用钨丝弹簧圈行血管内栓塞治疗。结果：动脉瘤完全闭塞２９例，大部分闭塞４例。１５例３个月后复查造影中１３例完全闭塞无变化。结论：用钨丝弹簧圈栓塞动脉瘤疗效肯定。５～２５ｍｍ动脉瘤栓塞成功率高，动脉瘤出血急性期栓塞最佳时间是出血后３天内。了解动脉瘤在影像学中的各种表现对栓塞治疗有利。     

电解可脱式微弹簧圈栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤

目的：探讨电解可脱式微弹簧圈(GDC)栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤的方法。方法：采用美国波士顿公司GDC栓塞治疗17例患者18个颅内动脉瘤，其中15例蛛网膜下腔出血患者，术前Hunt和Hess分级：I、Ⅱ级l0例；Ⅲ级3例；Ⅳ级2例。结果：13例痊愈，3例轻度短期神经功能障碍，1例死亡。结论：GDC栓塞是治疗颅内动脉瘤较为理想的方法之一。     

双微导管技术在宽颈颅内动脉瘤栓塞中的初步应用经验

目的　评估采用双微导管技术在宽颈颅内动脉瘤栓塞中的初步经验。方法　 6例宽颈动脉瘤在常规方法应用无效后采用双侧股动脉入路 ,把 2支微导管置入动脉瘤腔内 ,由微导管内同时或先后送入弹簧圈 ,待弹簧圈稳定后解脱 ,随后再送入更多的弹簧圈以达到致密填塞。结果　 6例AN成功地栓塞 ,10 0 %闭塞 2个、闭塞 >90 %的 4个。缺血性并发症 1例 ,导致中残。术后 3月时GOS优良 5例、中残 1例。有 5例进行了造影随访 ,无AN复发和再破裂。结论　双微导管技术对于某些复杂的宽颈动脉瘤是一种可供选择的方法。     

Stent-assisted coil embolization of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms

The endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms with coils poses significant technical challenges, particularly with respect to wide-necked aneurysms. We present the results of our initial experiences in using a stent for endovascular treatment of aneurysms, with an emphasis on potential applications, technical aspects, and associated complications. Twenty-three wide-necked aneurysms from 22 patients were treated during the 13-month study period. Seven patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Aneurysms were located at the internal carotid artery (n=14), the vertebral artery (n=3), the basilar artery (n=5), and the middle cerebral artery (n=1). A Neuroform stent² was used for stent-assisted procedures. Premedication with antithrombotic agents was available for unruptured cases. Postprocedural antithrombotic medication was prescribed for all patients. Nineteen aneurysms were primarily stented, followed by coil placement. For five of these aneurysms, stenting was performed subsequent to failure of an attempt to frame with an initial coil. Stenting for the remaining four aneurysms was performed as a rescue procedure to prevent the migration of previously placed coils. Complete occlusion was obtained in ten aneurysms, nearly complete occlusion (95% or more occluded) in 11 aneurysms, and partial occlusion (less than 95% occluded) in one aneurysm. In one aneurysm, we failed to navigate the microcatheter into the aneurysmal sac through the interstices of the stent. Stent thrombosis was noted during the procedure in one patient. Hemorrhagic complication on the 25th day after the procedure was noted in one patient. No procedure-related complications were observed during the procedure or during follow-up in the remaining 20 patients, including seven patients who did not receive antithrombotic agents prior to endovascular treatment owing to recent subarachnoid hemorrhage. To overcome the technical limitation in the coiling of wide-necked aneurysms, stent-assisted coil embolization may be a technically feasible and relatively safe method, even though longer periods of follow-up are required.     

Neuroform支架辅助弹簧圈填塞治疗颅内宽颈动脉瘤

目的 探讨 Neuroform支架辅助弹簧圈填塞治疗颅内宽颈动脉瘤的技术,并评价临床疗效和并发症.方法 采用Neuroform支架辅助技术对31例颅内宽颈动脉瘤进行了弹簧圈填塞治疗.31例患者共有颅内动脉瘤43枚,均为破裂动脉瘤,其中39枚为宽颈动脉瘤,21枚颈:体≥1,18枚颈:体<1;4枚为宽颈动脉瘤患者合并的非宽颈动脉瘤.结果 31例患者共置入支架35枚,其中3例患者两侧颈内动脉各置入1枚支架,1例两侧大脑中动脉各置入1枚.43枚动脉瘤中41枚进行了不同程度的填塞,2枚末行填塞.2例宽颈动脉瘤患者置入支架后出现非动脉瘤破裂性出血,均可能由于输送导丝损伤大脑中动脉分支引起;1例后交通动脉瘤患者,弹簧圈飘至大脑中动脉M2段,引起相应脑缺血症状.获随访的29例中无死亡病例和再次出血病例,28例生存良好,1例留有明显神经功能障碍.结论 支架辅助技术进行弹簧圈填塞治疗颅内宽颈动脉瘤是安全、有效的临床技术,可以拓宽颅内动脉瘤治疗的适应证.     

Treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: decision and cost-effectiveness analysis

PURPOSE: To prospectively perform a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis of surgical and endovascular treatments of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, with incorporation of the results of the prospective International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With use of a Markov model, a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis was performed for comparison of surgical or endovascular treatment with no treatment. Twelve clinical scenarios were defined on the basis of aneurysm size and location. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed for 50- and 40-year-old patient cohorts. Treatment was considered to be cost-effective at an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio less than $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. RESULTS: In 50-year-old patients, no treatment was the most cost-effective strategy for aneurysms located in the cavernous carotid artery. For aneurysms smaller than 7 mm located in the anterior circulation, no treatment was the most cost-effective strategy. Endovascular treatment was the most cost-effective option for 7-24-mm aneurysms, whereas surgical treatment was the most cost-effective option for aneurysms 25 mm or larger. For aneurysms smaller than 7 mm or 25 mm or larger located in the posterior circulation, no treatment was the most cost-effective strategy. Surgical treatment was the most cost-effective option for 7-12-mm aneurysms, whereas endovascular treatment was the most cost-effective option for 13-24-mm aneurysms. CONCLUSION: For 50-year-old patients, treatment of aneurysms that are small (<7 mm), that are located in the cavernous carotid artery, or that are large (>or=25 mm) and located in the posterior circulation is ineffective or not cost-effective.     

颅内未破动脉瘤的研究进展

未破裂颅内动脉瘤(UIA)是指没有破裂史或者与以前出血没有关系的颅内动脉瘤,包括偶然发现的动脉瘤和多发动脉瘤中未破裂的动脉瘤.UIA不管是自然破裂还是手术处理,均存在较大风险.目前,随着影像技术(特别是无创性影像技术)的发展和健康查体意识的提高,越来越多的UIA被发现,选择保守观察还是手术处理,对于患者本身、神经内外科、介入科、影像科医师,都是一个非常棘手的问题.本文将对近年来国内外专家学者在该领域的研究成果进行综述.     

TRUFILL DCS Orbit 水解脱弹簧圈栓塞治疗颅内小动脉瘤及宽颈动脉瘤

TRUFILLDCSOrbit属第二代水解脱弹簧圈[1]。我院用于小动脉瘤及宽颈动脉瘤进行了栓塞治疗,效果良好,报道如下。临床资料一、一般资料15例患者,男7例,女8例;年龄34～77岁,平均56岁。共17枚动脉瘤。二、临床表现15例均以蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)急性起病,并经CT检查证实。以突发剧烈头痛、后颈部不适为突出表现。7例伴不同程度的昏迷史,7例有高血压病史。动脉瘤按Hunt Hess分级:1级2例,2～3级9例,4～5级4例。三、影象学检查15例均经DSA脑血管造影检查确诊。动脉瘤位于前交通动脉7例;后交通动脉4例;颈内动脉分叉部1例;大脑中动脉分叉部1例…