Intraaneurysmal embolization of an unruptured basilar tip aneurysm associated with moyamoya disease.

We describe a patient with moyamoya disease associated with an unruptured basilar tip aneurysm which was treated by endovascular embolization using Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs). A 53-year-old man presented with left hemiparesis persisting for 3 mon ths before admission. Cerebral angiography revealed occlusion of the bilateral middle cerebral arteries and the left anterior cerebral artery, stenosis of the right anterior cerebral artery, and basal moyamoya vessels. In addition, a saccular small aneurysm was seen at the top of the basilar artery. The aneurysm was completely embolized by intraaneurysmal GDCs. Direct surgical clipping is often selected for the treatment of posterior fossa aneurysms in moyamoya disease. However, complete clipping is usually difficult due to the difficulties in operative technique associated with moyamoya disease. We suggest that the endovascular treatment using GDCs is comparatively safe and effective for the treatment of surgically difficult aneurysms in patients with moyamoya disease.     

A case of peduncular hallucination after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage]

We reported a case of peduncular hallucination after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The patient underwent endovascular embolization of an intracranial aneurysm using the Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) 9 days after SAH. On the 11th day, she reported visual hallucination: a maggot was on the ceiling, or a soldier who wore green clothes was standing by a locker. The hallucination was vivid, well-formed and associated with insomnia, suggesting peduncular hallucination. A computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed small infarctions of right frontal lobe, which were not responsible for the visual hallucination. Hyperdynamic therapy relieved the visual hallucination 23 days after SAH. It was conceivable that vasospasm was the cause of the infarction and visual hallucination. Only 4 cases with peduncular hallucination after SAH were reported in conjunction with vasospasm. The symptom may be concealed by disturbance of consciousness. Visual hallucination should be considered as a sign of cerebral vasospasm, and an appropriate treatment should be done at right time.     

GDC血管内栓塞治疗动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血后慢性脑积水的影响机制与预后研究

目的 探讨GDC血管内栓塞治疗动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血后慢性脑积水发生的易患因素和临床预后.方法 纳入研究标准的132例动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者均行GDC血管内栓塞治疗,术后对出血破入脑室伴脑室系统梗阻患者行脑室外引流术,对其他患者行腰椎穿刺脑脊液置换术,出血后1月CT评价慢性脑积水发生情况.对慢性轻度脑积水行短期临床观察,慢性重度脑积水行脑室腹腔分流术.根据改良Rankin量表评价患者6月后临床恢复情况.行统计学分析明确影响慢性脑积水发生的易患因素,比较动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血治疗6月后有无慢性脑积水者在临床预后上的差异.结果 本组动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者慢性脑积水的发生率为12.12%(16/132),其易患因素依次是年龄、术前Fisher分级、术前Hunt-Hess分级.GDC血管内栓塞治疗后6月随访,有无慢性脑积水者在临床预后方面差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血后慢性脑积水的发生不是单因素作用的结果,重度慢性脑积水患者及时行脑室腹腔分流术可得到较好的预后结果.     

Thrombosed vertebral artery aneurysm presenting with hemorrhage and bulbar compression: report of two cases

Bulbar compression by vertebral artery (VA) aneurysm is extremely rare and only reported in a few cases. We report two cases with thrombosed VA aneurysm compressing medulla oblongata; one presented with bulbar apoplexy hemorrhage and the other with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A 61-year-old male (case 1) presented with consciousness disturbances, left hemiplegia, and subsequent respiratory arrest. He was subjected to controlled ventilation, and computed tomography (CT) scan showed bulbar hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital subtraction angiogram (DSA) revealed fusiform right VA aneurysm with partial thrombosis and bulbar compression. Intra-aneurysmal embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) relieved his clinical symptom including respiratory disturbance. Three months after the onset, he remained moderately disabled. A 76-year-old male (case 2) presented with severe headache and subsequent respiratory disturbance. CT scan on admission showed subarachnoid hemorrhage with acute hydrocephalus. Ventricular drainage rapidly improved consciousness while respiratory disturbance persisted over several days. MRI and DSA suggested spontaneous thrombosis of the right VA dissection with bulbar compression. He showed gradual recovery of his respiration over a week. After ventriculo-peritoneal shunting, he was transferred with moderate disability. These results suggest that the elimination of the pulsatile effect of VA aneurysm adjacent to medulla oblongata can improve symptoms caused by aneurysm-related compression. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment such as intra-aneurysmal embolization for ameliorating the blood flow inside the aneurysm can relieve mass effect and clinical symptoms.     

Dissection of the superior cerebellar artery: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

Arterial dissections frequently involve the main trunk of the posterior circulation and are recognised as an important cause of stroke in young individuals. However, dissection confined to cerebellar arteries is rare. We encountered two patients with superior cerebellar artery (SCA) dissection. A 37-year-old man presented with dysarthria, right limb ataxia, and severe headache. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebellar infarction in the right SCA territory. Angiography demonstrated stenosis and fusiform dilation of the SCA in the anterior pontine segment. Recovery with antiplatelet treatment was nearly complete. A 45-year-old man was admitted with decreased consciousness after sudden onset of headache. Computed tomography demonstrated subarachnoid haemorrhage with hydrocephalus. Angiography revealed fusiform dilation of the left SCA in the anterior pontine segment. After ventricular drainage, endovascular embolisation was performed without ischaemic complications. The patient's condition improved sufficiently to return to daily life. In our search only four reported cases involved the SCA. Clinical manifestation and treatment for patients with cerebellar arterial dissections are discussed.     

电解可脱性弹簧圈早期血管内栓塞颅内破裂动脉瘤及相关问题讨论

目的探讨早期电解可脱性弹簧圈(GDC)血管内栓塞颅内动脉瘤的临床疗效及应用价值。方法急诊用GDC血管内栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤52例。结果成功栓塞52例共计55个颅内动脉瘤。51例痊愈,1例死亡。完全栓塞(>95%)栓塞32个,大部分栓塞(80%~95%)20个,部分栓塞(<80%)3个。并发动脉瘤破裂2例,其中1例痊愈,1例死亡。并发脑梗死3例,局部溶栓后,遗留轻偏瘫和单瘫。2例弹簧圈末端遗留于动脉瘤外,经抗凝治疗未发生并发症。3例复发再次栓塞后治愈。结论早期GDC血管内栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤是一种较为安全、可靠、有效的治疗方法。     

Fatal rupture following intra-aneurysmal embolization for the distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm with parent artery preservation

This 70-year-old female was admitted to our hospital 1 day after a sudden consciousness disturbance. Computed tomography (CT) showed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and angiogram revealed an irregular-shaped aneurysm at the lateral medullary segment of the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). The patient was treated by intra-aneurysmal embolization with Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) with parent artery preservation. Post-operative angiogram showed obliteration of the aneurysm except for the neck remnant, but she presented with rerupture 19 days after the onset and died 3 days later. Postmortem examination revealed massive hematoma around the aneurysm, which compressed medulla oblongata from behind. Histological assessment showed the 'entry' where the aneurysmal wall lacked internal elastic lamina, providing evidence of dissecting aneurysm. The present case suggests that embolization of distal PICA aneurysm with parent artery preservation should be avoided because radiological evaluation may fail to rule out the possibility of dissection, where the aneurysmal wall is affected not only at the 'entry' but also in the adjacent region.     

颅内破裂动脉瘤电解可脱性弹簧圈血管内早期栓塞治疗

目的 探讨早期电解可脱性弹簧罔血管内栓塞颅内破裂动脉瘤的临床疗效及应用价值. 方法 回顾性分析急诊用电解町脱性弹簧圈血管内栓塞治疗颅内破裂动脉瘤208例患者的临床资料. 结果 成功栓塞208例220个颅内动脉瘤.完全栓塞(>95%)128个,大部分栓塞(80%-95%)80个,部分栓塞(<79%)12个.并发动脉瘤破裂2例.1例痊愈,1例死亡;并发脑梗死5例,局部溶栓后遗留偏瘫和单瘫;3例弹簧圈末端遗留于动脉瘤外的载瘤动脉内.经抗凝治疗未发生并发症.12例复发再次栓塞后治愈. 结论 早期电解可脱性弹簧圈血管内栓塞治疗颅内破裂动脉瘤是一种较为安全、可靠、有效的治疗方法.     

急诊电解可脱性弹簧圈血管内栓塞治疗颅内破裂动脉瘤

目的探讨急诊电解可脱性弹簧圈(GDC)血管内栓塞颅内动脉瘤的临床疗效及应用价值。方法急诊用GDC血管内栓塞治疗颅内动脉瘤52例。结果成功栓塞52例55个颅内动脉瘤。51例痊愈,1例死亡。完全栓塞(>95%)32个,大部分栓塞(80%-95%)20个,部分栓塞(<79%)3个。并发动脉瘤破裂2例,其中1例痊愈,1例死亡。并发脑梗塞3例,局部溶栓后,遗留轻偏瘫和单瘫。2例弹簧圈末端遗留于动脉瘤外,经抗凝治疗未发生并发症。3例复发再次栓塞后痊愈。结论此方法是目前较为安全、可靠、有效的一种治疗方法。     

血管内支架结合电解可脱弹簧圈治疗颅内宽颈动脉瘤

目的 总结101管内芰架结合电解可脱弹簧圈治疗颅内宽颈动脉瘤的经验。方法 6例颈内动脉宽颈动脉瘤植入Neuroform支架掇盖动脉瘤颈，再将微导管通过支架网眼超选入动脉瘤腔填塞电解可脱弹簧圈，结果 5例动脉瘤达到致密填塞，1例大部填塞，载瘤动脉通畅，患者均恢复良好。结论 血管内支架结合微弹簧陶是治疗颅内宽颈动脉瘤的有效方法。     

Vertebrobasilar dissection: a possible role of whiplash injury in its pathogenesis

We reviewed 29 patients with vertebrobasilar dissections (VBD) to investigate the correlation between minor trauma and VBD and the clinical features of this trauma-related condition. Mean age was 43 years, with a male predominance (male/female ratio was 25/4). Seventeen patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and 12 with ischemic symptoms. Two patients presenting with ischemia had extracranial VBD (V3 segment). Angiographically, aneurysmal dilatation was observed in most SAH patients (13 patients) in contrast to narrowing or occlusion in most ischemic patients (10 patients). Among the 12 SAH patients treated with coil embolization or conservatively, five died, whereas all ischemic patients recovered well with anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy. Seven patients had received minor or trivial head/cervical trauma, due to whiplash injury, minor fall, or during exercise, which were identified to precede with the lapse of some time (a few minutes or days) the onset of symptoms. All of these patients presented with ischemic symptoms, and they were younger than the other ischemic or SAH patients. The site of vertebral artery dissection was intracranial in four cases, extracranial in one case, and combined in two cases at the level of the V3 segment and the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. However, no SAH occurred. These clinicopathological findings, i.e. ischemia and angiographic narrowing/occlusion, suggest that dissections were subintimal. Therefore, it is believed that this minor or trivial trauma may primarily cause subintimal dissection with luminal compromise, leading to ischemic symptoms, rather than subadventitial or transmural dissection with aneurysmal dilatation, leading to SAH. This lesion may also occur in younger patients with a favorable outcome. Careful note should be made of patient for the early recognition of this disorder.     

Delayed exacerbation of third nerve palsy due to aneurysmal regrowth after endovascular coil embolization.

A 72-year-old woman with a painful left third cranial nerve palsy due to a basilar artery aneurysm situated between the superior cerebellar and posterior cerebral arteries was treated with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs). Despite a good initial angiographic result with a small residual neck and improvement in the ocular motility and pain, the patient experienced worsening of the third cranial nerve palsy 15 months later. Cerebral angiography confirmed coil compaction with aneurysmal regrowth. A second endovascular coil embolization resulted in complete obliteration of the aneurysm. The patient experienced complete resolution of the pain and partial resolution of the third cranial nerve palsy. In some patients, a small residual aneurysm neck after endovascular embolization therapy with GDCs can result in delayed aneurysmal regrowth due to coil compaction. Clinical manifestations may herald this dangerous regrowth.     

Postpartum dissecting aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery.

Intracranial dissecting aneurysm may cause subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or infarction, and postpartum dissecting aneurysm is rare. A 30-year-old 6 days postpartum woman presented with posterior cerebral artery (PCA) dissection evolving dramatically over a short period. She had been well until 6 days after delivery when she suffered sudden onset of headache, vomiting, and unconsciousness. CT scan demonstrated SAH and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed a fusiform dilatation of the left PCA (P3/P4 segment). The initial diagnosis was ruptured dissecting aneurysm, and conservative management was recommended in the acute period. DSA showed smoothening of the vascular wall 6 days after onset, and obliteration of the left P3/P4 segment was observed 13 days after onset. She was discharged without neurological deficits 26 days after onset. Postpartum SAH due to dissecting aneurysm of the PCA is rare, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of postpartum headache.     

Endovascular treatment of blood blister-like aneurysms of internal carotid artery: Stent-assisted coiling and pipeline flow diversion

ObjectiveTo report the stent-assisted coil embolization and flow diversion treatments of blood-blister-like aneurysms based on the theory of acute dissection of the internal carotid artery.Patients and methodsFrom July 2016 through July 2020, 27 patients presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to rupture of internal carotid artery blood blister-like aneurysms were subjected to endovascular treatment with stent-assisted coiling or Pipeline flow diversion. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using modified Rankin Scale score (mRS).ResultsA proximal stenosis caused by angiopathology adjacent to aneurysms were found on internal carotid artery angiograms in all 27 cases. The angiopathology combining with the aneurysms implement that acute dissection of the supraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery indicated the pathogenesis of blood blister-like aneurysm formation. All aneurysms were treated successfully with alleviation of the adjacent angiopathology after stenting on angiograms. During 1–12 months, mean 3.5 months, complete aneurysm obliteration without adjacent stenosis were found in 25(92.6%) patients. Two (7.4%) cases of recanalization were retreated with complete obliteration at 1 week and 3 months after initial treatment. Clinical mRS 0 and 1 outcomes were observed in 23(85.2%) patients, mRS 2 in 3(11.1%) patients and mRS 6 in 1(3.7%) not related to aneurysm treatment during follow-up.ConclusionsAcute focal dissection of supraclinoid segment of internal carotid artery underlies the development of blood blister-like aneurysm. Stent-assisted coiling and flow diversion treatments constitute appropriate treatment based on the arterial dissection pathology.     

Intracranial extension of extracranial vertebral artery dissections. A review of 16 cases

INTRODUCTION: Vertebral artery (VA) dissections can involve both the extracranial and intracranial portions of the VA. Intradural extension explains the occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrage (SAH). We have studied the rate of this extension, the risk of associated SAH and the therapeutic repercussions at the acute stage. METHODS: From 1985 to 2001, 42 patients with a recent extracranial VA dissection were admitted to our department of neurology. When the diagnosis of extracranial VA dissection (involving the first, second or third segment of the VA) was established, we looked for an ipsilateral intracranial extension (involving the fourth segment of the VA and/or the basilar artery). VA dissections strictly located at the intracranial level were excluded. RESULTS: Among 42 patients with angiographically diagnosed extracranial VA dissections, 16 patients (38 percent) had an ipsilateral intradural extension. Two of them developed an inaugural and spontaneous SAH. After a mean follow-up of 4 Months under antithrombotic treatment, none of the patients has developed SAH or recurrent SAH. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the potential risk for spontaneous SAH at the acute stage, it seems important to exclude an intracranial extension. Lumbar puncture should be undertaken to exclude SAH before consideration of antithrombotic therapy.     

Endovascular Treatment of a Ruptured Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm during Pregnancy

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) during pregnancy is quite rare, however it has a high maternal mortality rate. A pregnant woman in the 16th gestational week was admitted to our hospital with a drowsy level of consciousness. A brain magnetic resonance (MR) image showed hemorrhage on the prepontine cistern, and both sylvian fissures, and MR angiography and cerebral digital subtraction angiography demonstrated an aneurysm at the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). We performed endovascular coil embolization attempting to minimize radiation exposure. She was discharged with no neurologic deficit and delivered a healthy baby by cesarean section at the 38th week of gestation. This case study reported the shortest gestational period and this is the first report on an aneurysmal rupture arising from PICA which was treated using an endovascular method. Using an appropriate technique for reduced radiation exposure to the fetus and limited alterations in maternal-fetal physiology, endovascular coil embolization could guarantee good results in treatment of aneurysmal SAH in pregnant women.     

Childhood subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with fibromuscular dysplasia

A rare case of childhood subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is reported. A 5-year-old boy presented with SAH. A cerebral angiogram showed obstruction of the first segment of the left anterior cerebral artery (A1). The A1 was surgically trapped to prevent rebleeding. Proliferation of myofibroblasts was revealed in the intima of the A1. Cerebral infarction appeared in the territory of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) on day 2 after onset of SAH, and the patient suffered a second SAH on day 26. The second angiogram showed stenosis and a saccular aneurysm in the left MCA. A second surgery, neck clipping of the aneurysm, was needed. The multiple arterial lesions and histological findings indicated that the SAHs and the infarction were caused by the dissecting aneurysm affected with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). Intracranial FMD is mainly detected in children and causes cerebral ischemia and bleeding. Surgical treatment of childhood SAH should be discretely chosen with due consideration for FMD.     

大脑前动脉A_1段动脉瘤的临床特点及治疗(附8例分析)

目的探讨大脑前动脉A_1段动脉瘤的临床特征以及治疗方式。方法回顾性分析2010年1月至2014年3月收治的8例大脑前动脉A_1段动脉瘤的临床资料。结果蛛网膜下腔出血6例,未破裂2例;栓塞治疗4例,夹闭4例。术后随访12~36个月;6例可正常工作生活,2例生活基本能够自理;改良Rankin量表评分2分2例,1分2例,0分4例;8例DSA或CTA复查均未见复发。结论大脑前动脉A_1段动脉瘤破裂可主要表现为蛛网膜下腔出血,血管内栓塞治疗及显微夹闭术均是可行并有效的治疗方法。     

Prognosis of intracranial dissection relates to site and presenting features

Intracranial arterial dissection is relatively rare and generally considered to have a worse outcome than extracranial arterial dissection. It is a clinically significant entity that can cause severely disabling ischaemic stroke or subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Only a few large case series of intracranial arterial dissection have been reported, particularly in the anterior circulation, but it is being increasingly recognized with advances in non-invasive angiographic diagnostic procedures. Patients with posterior circulation dissection appear to present more commonly with SAH and are traditionally said to have a worse outcome. Treatment options remain controversial and include medical therapy, as well as endovascular and surgical intervention. We reviewed the clinical features and outcome of 25 patients who had been treated for intracranial dissection at The Royal Melbourne Hospital over a period of 5 years. We recorded patient age, clinical presenting features, neuroimaging findings, treatment, and outcome assessment at 90 days using the modified Rankin Score (mRS). Eleven patients had anterior circulation dissection, while 14 had posterior circulation dissection; and overall 12 patients had cerebral ischaemia while 13 had subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Almost all intracranial arterial dissections occurred spontaneously, without a history of trauma. Patients were relatively young, especially those in the group with ischaemia, with an average age of 39 years. Hypertension was the most commonly identified vascular risk factor. Eight out of 12 patients with ischaemia (66.7%) had anterior circulation dissection, while posterior circulation dissection occurred in 10 of 13 patients with SAH (76.9%). Location of anterior circulation dissection was variable, while the terminal vertebral artery segment was most commonly involved in the posterior circulation group. Most of the patients in the ischaemic group received medical therapy (n = 10/12), while 10 out of 13 (76.9%) patients with SAH underwent endovascular and/or surgical intervention. There was a trend towards more favourable outcome at 90 days (mRS ?3) in the ischaemic group (n = 10/12, 83.3%) compared to the SAH group (n = 6/13, 46.2%), but this did not reach statistical significance (p value = 0.097). The mortality rate was 16.7% (n = 2/12) in the ischaemia group, and 7.7% in the SAH group (n = 1/13), not significant. Among all the ischaemic group patients who received medical therapy, there were no deaths or development of secondary intracranial bleeding complications including SAH at 90 days. Our series suggest that it is possible to divide patients with intracranial dissection into two groups: (i) an ischaemia group, associated with a more favourable clinical outcome even when treated with antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy; or (ii) a SAH group with a less favourable prognosis. The mortality rate, especially in patients with SAH who are generally treated with endovascular and/or surgical intervention, is less than previously reported. Anterior circulation involvement appears more common than traditionally perceived. The spontaneous occurrence of intracranial dissection in a relatively young age group, the predominant site of dissection in the artery at some distance from its tethered proximal segment, and the commonly observed hypertension, together raise the possibility of spontaneous dissection in arteries prematurely weakened by accelerated atherosclerosis.     

Traumatic extracranial vertebral artery dissection treated with coil embolization--a case report]

We reported a 37-year-old man who developed vertigo, dysarthria and left hemiparesis following neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated infarct in the right superior cerebellar artery (SCA) territory. Duplex color-flow imaging detected dissection (double lumen) in the right vertebral artery (VA) at the level of the C4-C6 vertebra (V2 segment). Cerebral angiography showed irregular narrowing in the right V2, and occlusion of the right SCA. These findings suggested that dissection in the right V2 caused artery-to-artery embolism in the right SCA. Despite administration of anti-thrombotic agents, he recurrently suffered from transient ischemic attacks. Serial duplex color-flow imaging echography revealed that the dissection of the right VA gradually became more stenotic and extended to the distal site. Coil-embolization of the right VA by endovascular therapy was performed, and thereafter the dissecting lesion of the right VA was completely occluded and ischemic attacks disappeared.