Combined aspiration thrombectomy and continuous intrasinus thrombolysis for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: technical note and case series

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is an uncommon cause of stroke with high morbidity and mortality rates from venous infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, and extensive cerebral edema. Endovascular treatment with various devices has been proposed as a salvage treatment when standard medical treatment with systemic anticoagulation is ineffective, especially in long segment dural sinus thrombosis. We describe our technique of transvenous endovascular aspiration thrombectomy with large bore thrombectomy catheters, followed by placement of microcatheter for local thrombolytic infusion at the site of thrombosis. We report a retrospective study of angiographic and clinical outcome of six consecutive patients treated with this approach. Endovascular aspiration thrombectomy with large bore catheters followed by continuous local thrombolytic infusion appeared to be a safe and effective salvage treatment for selected patients with cerebral dural venous sinus thrombosis refractory to medical treatment.     

MR staging of acute dural sinus thrombosis: correlation with venous pressure measurements and implications for treatment and prognosis.

PURPOSETo correlate parenchymal brain changes, venous sinus pressure measurements, and outcome in 29 patients with acute dural sinus thrombosis.METHODSA retrospective review of 29 patients with angiographically proved acute dural sinus thrombosis was made from January 1989 to December 1993. MR examinations were performed on either a 0.5- or 1.5-T superconductive scanner in multiple planes. Direct dural sinus venography, cerebral angiography, and MR venography were performed. Venous sinus pressure measurements were obtained in 11 of 29 patients.RESULTSWe identified five distinct stages of brain parenchymal changes; each stage correlated with increasing intradural sinus pressure. The pressures measured in this study ranged from 20 to 50 mm Hg. Brain parenchymal changes were reversible up to stage III if thrombolytic treatment was performed. Beyond stage III, there were some residual changes, even after thrombolysis. All stage V patients died.CONCLUSIONAcute dural sinus thrombosis leads to distinct stages of parenchymal changes, the severity of which depends on the degree of venous congestion, which, in turn, is closely related to intradural sinus pressure. As intradural sinus pressure increases, progression from mild parenchymal change to severe cerebral edema and/or hematoma may occur if thrombolysis is delayed.     

Treatment of High-risk Venous Thrombosis Patients Using Low-dose Intraclot Injections of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Regional Anticoagulation

Seven patients with venous thrombosis and contraindications to traditional thrombolytic therapy, consisting of recent intracranial surgery, recent pineal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage, active genitourinary or gastrointestinal bleeding, epidural procedures, and impending surgery, were successfully treated with a modified thrombolytic regimen. To improve safety, prolonged continuous infusions of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was eliminated in favor of once-daily low-dose intraclot injections of tPA to minimize the amount and duration of tPA in the systemic circulation, and low-therapeutic or regional anticoagulation was used to reduce anticoagulant risks. These modifications may allow thrombolytic treatment for selected patients with severe venous thrombosis who are deemed to be at high risk.     

Nontraumatic vascular emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute venous occlusion

Risk factors for acute venous occlusion range from prolonged immobilization to hypercoagulability syndromes, trauma, and malignancy. The aim of this review article is to illustrate the different imaging options for the diagnosis of acute venous occlusion and to assess the value of interventional strategies for venous thrombosis treatment in an emergency setting. First, diagnosis and treatment of the most common form of venous occlusion, at the level of the lower extremities, is presented, followed by pelvic vein and inferior vena cava occlusion, mesenteric venous thrombosis, upper extremity occlusion, acute cerebral vein thrombosis, and finally acute venous occlusion of hemodialysis access. In acute venous occlusion of the lower extremity phlebography is still the reference gold standard. Presently, duplex ultrasound with manual compression is the most sensitive and specific noninvasive test. Limitations of ultrasonography include isolated distal calf vein occlusion, obesity, and patients with lower extremity edema. If sonography is nondiagnostic, venography should be considered. Magnetic resonance venography can differentiate an acute occlusion from chronic thrombus, but because of its high cost and limited availability, it is not yet used for the routine diagnosis of lower extremity venous occlusion only. Regarding interventional treatment, catheter-directed thrombolysis can be applied to dissolve thrombus in charily selected patients with symptomatic occlusion and no contraindications to therapy. Acute occlusion of the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cava, often due to extension from the femoropopliteal system, represents a major risk for pulmonary embolism. Color flow Doppler imaging is often limited owing to obesity and bowel gas. Venography has long been considered the gold standard for identifying proximal venous occlusion. Both CT scanning and MR imaging, however, can even more accurately diagnose acute pelvis vein or inferior vena cava occlusion. MRI is preferred because it is noninvasive, does not require contrast agent, carries no exposure to ionizing radiation, and is highly accurate and reproducible. Apart from catheter-directed thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy has proven to be a quick and safe treatment modality by enabling the recanalization of thrombotic occlusions in conjunction with minimal invasiveness and a low bleeding risk. Mechanical thrombectomy devices should only be used in conjunction with a temporary cava filter. Contrast-enhanced CT is at present considered the examination of choice for acute mesenteric vein occlusion which has mortality rates as high as 80%. Patients with proven acute mesenteric venous occlusion and contraindications to surgical therapy and no identified bleeding disposition without looming bowel ischemia or infarction are possible contenders to the less invasive percutaneous approach either by (in)direct thrombolysis or mechanical means. Ultrasonography is the primary imaging modality for the diagnosis of upper extremity thrombosis. Computed tomography and MRI are in addition helpful in diagnosing central chest vein occlusions. The interventionalist is rarely involved in the treatment of this entity. Catheter-directed thrombolysis is known to improve lysis rates. Together with balloon angioplasty good results have been obtained. If stenosis or thrombus remains after thrombolysis and angioplasty, stent placement should follow. Within the first two weeks, thrombosed dural sinus and cerebral venous vessels are typically hyperdense on CT compared with brain parenchyma; after the course of 2 weeks, the thrombus will become isodense. In MRI an axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence, an axial diffusion-weighted MRI, coronal T1-weighted spin-echo and T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo sequences, a coronal gradient-echo and a 3D phase-contrast venous angiogram should be performed. Local thrombolysis is needed only when patients have an exacerbation of clinical symptoms or imaging signs of worsening disease despite sufficient anticoagulation therapy. Acute occlusions of dialysis grafts and fistulae are a frequently encountered complication. Among the various methods described for acute occlusion screening, ultrasonography and MRI have been proven to be accurate and noninvasive; however, if immediate treatment can be anticipated, imaging should be performed directly by digital subtraction angiography before the percutaneous intervention. Initial percutaneous thrombectomy is very effective with success rates and patency rates comparable to those of surgical thrombectomy. A short thrombosis can be treated with balloon angioplasty alone, whereas an extensive thrombosis requires a combination of mechanical devices and/or thrombolytic agents with adjunctive balloon angioplasty. Electronic Publication     

Application of a rheolytic thrombectomy device in the treatment of dural sinus thrombosis: a new technique.

We present a novel application of a transvascular rheolytic thrombectomy system in the treatment of symptomatic dural sinus thrombosis in a 54-year-old woman with somnolence and left-sided weakness. The diagnosis of bilateral transverse and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis was made and the patient was treated with anticoagulant therapy. After an initial period of improvement, she became comatose and hemiplegic 8 days after presentation. After excluding intracerebral hemorrhage by MR imaging, we performed angiography and transfemoral venous thrombolysis with a hydrodynamic thrombectomy catheter, followed by intrasinus urokinase thrombolytic therapy over the course of 2 days. This technique resulted in dramatic sinus thrombolysis and near total neurologic recovery. Six months after treatment, the patient showed mild cognitive impairment and no focal neurologic deficit. Our preliminary experience suggests that this technique may play a significant role in the endovascular treatment of this potentially devastating disease.     

Non-traumatic neurological emergencies: emergency neuroradiological interventions

This article summarizes recent developments in the growing field of interventional neuroradiology for the treatment of acute cerebrovascular disease. We describe the possibilities in endovascular therapy of acute cerebral aneurysms using electrolytically detachable coils combined with trispan neck bridging devices and stent implantation to occlude acute wide neck aneurysms. Techniques and results of local intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy in acute stroke and central retinal artery occlusion are described and we discuss the potential for rapid, large-burden thrombus removal in cases of internal carotid artery thrombosis by rheolytic thrombectomy, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent implantation. Emergency endovascular therapy using the transvenous approach to treat severe intracranial or intraocular hypertension and multifocal haemorrhagic venous infarction due to cerebral sinus thrombosis or dural fistulas is also described. In cases of acute bleeding of head and neck lesions following trauma, tumours after radiotherapy, arteriovenous malformations, epistaxis or from iatrogenic origin, angiography plays a major role in localizing the source of bleeding and occluding the damaged vessel during the same session using the same endovascular approach.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of an acute venous stroke: case report.

A patient with a superior sagittal sinus thrombosis had progressively worsening symptoms and signs that resolved after IV heparin therapy. MR imaging revealed abnormalities in diffusion, similar to those seen with acute arterial stroke. Abnormalities shown on a T2-weighted fast spin-echo and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images resolved completely. The findings in this report contradict those from previous reports that suggest diffusion-weighted imaging with quantitative apparent diffusion coefficients may be used in selecting patients for dural venous sinus thrombolysis.     

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of dural sinus thrombosis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful to diagnose dural sinus thrombosis. However, the representative appearance of dural sinus thrombosis on diffusion-weighted MRI has not been established. This study was aimed at determining whether cytotoxic or vasogenic edema is more predominant in the affected cerebral parenchyma and assessing the time courses and prognosis of dural sinus thrombosis lesion. The studies on sixteen patients with dural sinus thrombosis who underwent diffusion-weighted MRI were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography in 11 patients and magnetic resonance angiography in five patients. Diffusion-weighted images with echo-planar imaging were obtained using two or three b values, with the highest b value of up to 1,000 s/mm(2). A region of interest was placed on an area of abnormal signal intensity to calculate apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). Nine of the 16 patients had lesions with an increased ADC, whereas, three of these nine patients also had lesions with a decreased ADC. Among 11 patients who underwent initial MRI within 7 days of their last episode, eight had lesions with an increased ADC, of whom three had lesions mixed with both decreased and increased ADC areas. Follow-up studies of these three patients revealed the development of hemorrhagic infarction in two and subcortical hemorrhage in one. Vasogenic edema develops more predominantly and earlier in dural sinus thrombosis, though cytotoxic edema was also associated with the pathological changes in the early phase. Decrease of ADC value is presumed to reflect severe pathological conditions and indicate possible future development of infarction or hemorrhage.     

重症硬脑膜静脉窦血栓的局部溶栓治疗

目的 研究重症硬脑膜静脉窦血栓的局部溶栓治疗的方法及疗效。方法 总结我院自2000年以来6例重症硬脑膜静脉窦血栓的局部溶栓治疗经验，男4例，女2例，其中4例采用一侧股动脉及对侧股静脉Seldinger穿刺，2例采用股动脉Seldinger穿刺及上矢状窦前1／3穿刺。导管置入一侧颈内动脉及静脉窦血栓处后，于颈内动脉及静脉窦血栓处先后各用尿激酶50万U，以每分钟1万U泵入，再于静脉窦血栓处泵入尿激酶持续溶栓，维持外周血中纤维蛋白原含量1．0～1．5g／L，同时予全身肝素化，维持外周血活化部分凝血活酶时间正常值的2～3倍。结果 本组6例，5例痊愈，颅内压转正常，头痛消失，无神经功能障碍，其中4例数字减影血管造影(DSA)见浅表静脉扩张消失，静脉窦显影正常，1例浅表静脉扩张明显改善，静脉窦显影较前好转；1例好转，颅内压较前降低，头痛好转，DSA见浅表静脉扩张消失，静脉窦显影正常，抗凝治疗1个月后颅内压正常，头痛消失，神经功能恢复正常。结论 重症硬脑膜静脉窦血栓采用动静脉系统联合应用尿激酶局部溶栓治疗是快速、安全、有效的方法，经股静脉途径不易到达静脉窦血栓处者，可以行上矢状窦入路。     

Acute dural venous sinus thrombosis without brain parenchymal abnormality: assessment with cerebral blood volume using dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging

We report results applying the dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) magnetic resonance (MR) technique to a patient with dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) of the right transverse-sigmoid sinus without brain parenchymal abnormality. The DSC-MR technique clearly demonstrated increased regional cerebral blood volume of the right temporo-parieto-occipital region adjacent to a right transverse-sigmoid sinus thrombosis in a patient with DVST without cerebral edema or hemorrhage.     

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Treated with Vacuum Aspiration Thrombectomy without Thrombolysis: A Descriptive and Retrospective Study of 5 Years’ Experience at a Single Center

PurposeCerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare but life-threatening condition. Mechanical thrombectomy is a treatment option for patients who deteriorate or do not improve despite anticoagulation treatment or those who have a major contraindication to anticoagulation. The purpose of this study was to describe the authors’ 5 years of experience in treating CVST with vacuum aspiration thrombectomy without thrombolysis.Materials and MethodsFor this retrospective study, data were collected from consecutive patients with CVST who received anticoagulation as initial medical treatment and were treated with vacuum aspiration thrombectomy without thrombolysis. Patients were followed up at 3 months and after 1 year.ResultsThe 9 patients included in the study had a median age of 37 years, and 5 were women. All 9 patients had headaches at presentation; 7 had focal neurologic deficits, and 7 had intracranial hypertension. Risk factors for CVST were identified in 8 patients, and poor prognostic factors were identified in 7 patients. In the 9 patients, 24 CVST locations were treated; complete (70.8%) or partial (29.2%) recanalization was achieved in all CVST locations. No procedure-related complications occurred. One patient died of parenchymal hemorrhagic transformation of CVST and vasogenic edema, 6 hours after the procedure. Two patients required neurosurgical intervention. After 1 year (range, 13–30 months), all 8 surviving patients had good functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2).ConclusionsFor appropriately selected patients with CVST, vacuum aspiration thrombectomy without thrombolysis seemed to be an effective therapy.     

Diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MR imaging of dural sinus thrombosis

A patient with dural sinus thrombosis had progressively worsening symptoms and signs that resolved after intradural thrombolysis. Intradural sinus pressures were 54 mm Hg. Echo-planar MR imaging revealed complex abnormalities of diffusion and widespread delay in mean transit time that improved immediately after thrombolysis. This case suggests that diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging can provide valuable information noninvasively to help triage patients with dural sinus thrombosis between conservative and aggressive management.     

Isolated cortical venous thrombosis and ulcerative colitis.

Aseptic cortical venous thrombosis is rare without concomitant dural sinus thrombosis. Ulcerative colitis is associated with both dural sinus thrombosis and isolated cortical venous thrombosis. We describe a 26-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis who had a spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage. An overlying thrombosed cortical vein was identified on spin-echo MR images and confirmed with angiography. Signal characteristics of thrombosed cortical veins are similar to those described in dural sinus thrombosis.     

Endovascular management of venous thrombotic diseases of the upper torso and extremities

Central venous thrombosis in the upper torso can be either primary, occurring as a result of longstanding extrinsic compression, or secondary, resulting from an acquired intrinsic occlusive disease or foreign body. As in lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), anticoagulation therapy is the mainstay of therapy in upper torso and upper extremity DVT. However, in the presence of severely symptomatic acute thrombosis, pharmacologic and/or mechanical thrombolytic therapy represent the main invasive form of therapy for these conditions. After clearance of the acute thrombotic component, definitive management in patients with underlying anatomic abnormalities can be undertaken. Primary subclavian axillary vein thrombosis caused by extrinsic obstruction at the thoracic outlet is treated with thrombolytic therapy and anticoagulation followed by surgical decompression, whereas secondary causes of central venous obstruction and thrombosis are usually amenable to endovascular treatment with balloon angioplasty and stent placement. Postoperative interval anticoagulation is usually recommended. In addition to clinical follow-up, imaging follow-up with duplex sonography or conventional venography is usually recommended to assess the presence of restenosis and/or residual compression.     

Cerebral MR venography: normal anatomy and potential diagnostic pitfalls

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR venography is often used to examine the intracranial venous system, particularly in the evaluation of dural sinus thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of MR venography in the depiction of the normal intracranial venous anatomy and its variants, to assess its potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of dural venous sinus thrombosis, and to compare the findings with those of conventional catheter angiography. METHODS: Cerebral MR venograms obtained in 100 persons with normal MR imaging studies were reviewed to determine the presence or absence of the dural sinuses and major intracranial veins. RESULTS: Systematic review of the 100 cases revealed transverse sinus flow gaps in 31% of the cases, with 90% of these occurring in the nondominant transverse sinus and 10% in the codominant transverse sinuses. No flow gaps occurred in the dominant transverse sinuses. The superior sagittal and straight sinuses were seen in every venogram; the occipital sinus was seen in only 10%. The vein of Galen and internal cerebral veins were also seen in every case; the basal veins of Rosenthal were present in 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Transverse sinus flow gaps can be observed in as many as 31% of patients with normal MR imaging findings; these gaps should not be mistaken for dural sinus thrombosis.     

Mechanical thrombectomy for DVT

Deep venous thrombosis is a common source of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Complications include pulmonary embolism and chronic post-thrombotic syndrome. Chronic post-thrombotic syndrome is characterized by extremity pain, edema, venous claudication, skin changes, and skin ulceration. This syndrome is attributed to venous obstruction and valvular damage due to thrombus. The standard treatment of deep venous thrombosis consists of medical management with anticoagulation. Anticoagulation has proven efficacy in prevention of thrombus extension, pulmonary embolus, and re-thrombosis. The role of anticoagulation in post-thrombotic syndrome is unclear. Aggressive endovascular techniques for managing DVT have evolved as a result. Catheter-directed thrombolysis was the first such procedure with demonstrated efficacy, however its acceptance has been limited by perceived risks, time to lysis, and cost. As a result, alternative measures for managing DVT have evolved including mechanical thrombectomy. Mechanical thrombectomy for DVT has the potential to shorten the time for lysis, reduce the risk of thrombolytic agents, and potentially impact cost savings.     

Acute thrombosis of the intracranial dural sinus: direct thrombolytic treatment.

Acute intracranial dural sinus thrombosis may have severe morbidity or fatal complications without appropriate treatment. Direct dural sinus venography can be performed safely with a soft Tracker catheter to document the fresh thrombus as an adjunct to CT or MR. We are reporting our experience with successful direct urokinase thrombolytic therapy in three cases of superior sagittal sinus and two cases of transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis. All five patients have recovered completely without any residual clinical deficit.     

Isolated cortical venous thrombosis presenting as subarachnoid hemorrhage: a report of three cases

Cortical venous thrombosis (CVT) without concomitant dural sinus thrombosis is an uncommon disorder. Isolated CVT usually manifests on imaging studies as focal parenchymal hemorrhage or edema. We report three cases of isolated CVT that presented with unilateral, localized subarachnoid hemorrhage without parenchymal involvement.     

Treatment of dural sinus thrombosis by urokinase infusion.

PURPOSETo gain a preliminary understanding of the role of thrombolytic therapy for the thrombosed dural sinus, we retrospectively reviewed our initial experience.METHODSSeven patients, ages 25 to 71, who presented with symptomatic dural sinus thrombosis and who failed a trial of medical therapy were treated with direct infusion of urokinase into the thrombosed sinus. Patients received urokinase doses ranging from 20,000 to 150,000 U/h with a mean infusion time of 163 hours (range 88 to 244 hours).RESULTSPatency of the affected dural sinus was achieved with antegrade flow in all patients. Six patients either improved neurologically over their prethrombolysis state or were healthy after thrombolysis; one of them required angioplasty. The other patient improved after surgical repair of a residual dural arteriovenous fistula. The only complications were an infected femoral access site which resolved after treatment with antibiotics and hematuria which cleared after discontinuation of anticoagulation.CONCLUSIONSThrombolysis of the thrombosed dural sinus shows promise as a safe and efficacious treatment. The results of this study should provide the impetus for further research.     

Partially recanalized chronic dural sinus thrombosis: findings on MR imaging, time-of-flight MR venography, and contrast-enhanced MR venography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The imaging appearance of chronic, partially recanalized dural sinus thrombosis has been incompletely described. We sought to more fully characterize the imaging findings of this entity on MR imaging, time-of-flight MR venography (TOF-MRV), and elliptic centric-ordered contrast-enhanced MR venography (CE-MRV). Materials and METHODS: From a data base of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis, 10 patients were identified with imaging and clinical findings consistent with the diagnosis of chronic, partially recanalized, dural sinus thrombosis. All patients had MR imaging of the brain without and with contrast. Nine patients underwent MRV, and 6 had both CE-MRV and TOF-MRV. Thirty-four venous segments were thrombosed and were assessed in detail for multiple imaging features. RESULTS: Most thrombosed segments were isointense to gray matter on T1-weighted images (85%), and hyperintense to gray matter on T2-weighted images (97%). Visible serpiginous intrathrombus flow voids were visible in 23 segments (8/10 patients) corresponding with areas of flow signal intensity on TOF-MRV and enhancing channels on contrast MRV. Eighty-four percent of thrombosed segments enhanced equal to or greater than venographically normal venous sinuses. TOF-MRV and CE-MRV were abnormal in all patients, and CE-MRV more completely characterized the thrombosed segments. The imaging appearance did not change in those patients with follow-up imaging (average 13.6 months). CONCLUSION: Chronic, partially recanalized, venous thrombosis has a characteristic appearance on MR and MRV. CE-MRV was abnormal in all cases, despite the intense enhancement of the thrombosed segments. Because of the highly selected nature of the cases reported, further study is required to determine whether these findings are present in all cases of this condition.