Treatment of recurrent previously coiled anterior circulation aneurysm with minimally invasive keyhole craniotomy: report of two cases.

The use of minimally invasive techniques has not yet been reported for the treatment of recurrent aneurysms after coil embolization. A 47-year-old man with a long history of headaches had an anterior communicating aneurysm that had previously been coil embolized. Three-year follow-up angiography showed a significant recurrence. A 50-year-old woman with subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute visual loss underwent coil embolization of a large ophthalmic artery aneurysm, which recurred 3 months later. In both cases, a keyhole fronto-orbital one-piece craniotomy was performed. In the first patient, the aneurysm was clip ligated. The coil mass, which had eroded through the dome, was excised. In the second patient, the anterior clinoid was removed and the aneurysm was clip ligated. Postoperative angiography showed no residual aneurysm and no evidence of branch or parent vessel compromise in either patient. Both patients had an uncomplicated postoperative course. Recurrent previously coiled aneurysms are technically challenging to treat. A minimal fronto-orbital craniotomy provides a sufficiently capacious working space for successful treatment of some recurrent aneurysms of the anterior circulation.     

Endovascular treatment for basilar tip aneurysms

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of endovascular treatment of basilar (BA) tip aneurysms. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 79 aneurysms of the BA tip that had been treated using endovascular coil embolization for the last 11 years. Fifty-six patients were women, and 23 were men. The average age of the patients was 63.7 years (range, 35-83 year). The average maximum diameter of the aneurysms was 8.0 mm (range, 2-30 mm). Forty-seven patients (60%) presented with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 1 patient (1%) had an unruptured aneurysm with mass effect, and 31 patients (39%) had incidental aneurysms. Immediate anatomic outcomes demonstrated complete occlusion (CO) in 53 aneurysms (67%), residual neck (RN) in 22 aneurysms (28%), and residual aneurysm (RA) in 4 aneurysms (5%). One patient died from rebleeding 6 hours after the embolization. Another patient suffered from rebleeding 6 years after the initial embolization, and was successfully treated with re-embolization. Four patients suffered from asymptomatic P1 occlusion. No symptomatic complication was observed in the unruptured group. Retreatment was performed in 5 patients, including 4 broad-neck large ruptured aneurysms and 1 giant thrombosed aneurysm. Angiographic and clinical results have been improving in recent cases in this study. Technical advances such as highly compliant balloon remodeling microcatheter and 3D-reconstructed digital angiography contributed to this improvement. Our results indicate that endovascular treatment of BA tip aneurysm is safe and effective. The long-term stability after coil embolization is still a matter of concern. Further improvement is expected.     

One-stage embolization in patients with acutely ruptured poor-grade aneurysm

BACKGROUND: Early or ultra-early surgery for patients in poor neurological condition (Hunt and Hess grade IV or V) after ictus of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is increasingly reported to prevent early rebleeding. To prevent any rebleeding after hospital admission, we have treated patients with poor-grade aneurysm during the same session as when diagnostic angiography is performed ("one-stage embolization"). The aim of the present study is to determine whether this treatment modality is a viable management option for this group of patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 18 consecutive patients who presented with acutely ruptured aneurysms and were in very poor neurological condition and who were treated with one-stage embolization. RESULTS: We observed 2 complications related to the endovascular procedure: partial occlusion of the parent artery and aneurysm rupture during the procedure. According to the Glasgow Outcome Scale, good recovery occurred in 8 patients, and moderate and severe disabilities occurred in 4 and 3 patients, respectively, and 3 patients died. No rebleeding occurred after the procedure. The mean follow-up of the surviving patients (those who were alive more than 30 days after embolization) was 13.7 months (4-25 months). Three patients had surgery after endovascular procedure: 2 surgical clipping of failed or partial aneurysm embolization and 1 emergency coil removal with clipping. A permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed in 11 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We achieved promising results by using one-stage embolization to prevent ultra-early rebleeding followed by aggressive resuscitation. The active involvement of the endovascular team from the stage of diagnostic angiogram is a prerequisite for this treatment strategy.     

Endovascular coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms: important factors related to rates and outcomes of incomplete occlusion

OBJECT: The authors report on important factors that influenced clinical and angiographically demonstrated outcomes in patients treated using coil embolization. METHODS: This study included 160 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular coil embolization for treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors that influenced the immediate posttreatment angiographic result. Cox regression analysis was used to establish factors related to the occurrence of negative events as well as a curve indicating the time to a negative event. Negative events were defined as aneurysm remnant increase, repeated treatment, rebleeding, or death during periprocedural hospitalization. Seventy-three percent of the patients treated in this study were independent or demonstrated no deficit (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] Score 4 or 5) at a mean follow up of 18.2 months. The annual delayed rebleeding rate was 0.45%. Fifty percent of patients (65 of 131) suffered a negative event within 13 +/- 14 months (standard deviation). Statistically significant factors associated with the occurrence of negative events were rupture status (p = 0.0128) and immediate posttreatment angiographic result (p < 0.001). Overall clinical outcome assessed using the GOS was significantly related to the immediate posttreatment angiographic result (chi2 = 4.788, p = 0.029). The immediate post-treatment angiographic results were significantly influenced by catheter stability (p = 0.0012), aneurysm geometry (that is, simple or complex, p = 0.0053), and aneurysm neck diameter (p = 0.0205). CONCLUSIONS: A good or excellent clinical outcome can be obtained in most patients treated using endovascular coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms. Note, however, that a significant number of patients treated using traditional platinum coils will harbor unstable aneurysm remnants or require repeated treatment.     

Recurrent hemorrhage after initially complete occlusion of intracranial aneurysms

Recurrent hemorrhage in the case of incompletely treated aneurysms is well known. The authors present a series of patients in whom rebleeding occurred in spite of totally occluded aneurysms. During a period of 12 years, 1170 patients with intracranial aneurysms were treated using either clipping (n=727) or coiling (n=443). In 11 of them, intracranial rebleeding occurred, in seven of whom routine post-treatment angiography revealed total aneurysm occlusion before the appearance of rehemorrhage. Further analysis focused on these seven patients. Their recurrent aneurysm ruptures happened with a mean latency of 9.5 months (range 21 h–48 months) from initial treatment. All aneurysms belonged to the anterior circulation. Three patients underwent primary clipping, and four experienced coiling first. The intracranial hemorrhages appeared mainly as intracerebral hematomas. The angiographically documented recurrent aneurysm configurations were caused by clip slippage (n=2), coil compaction (n=3), or coil migration/dislocation (n=1). In one case with primary surgery, clip slippage was possible but not confirmed by intraoperative view, because the patient died before therapeutic intervention. Two patients did not undergo therapy because of their poor clinical condition and died. Four of the remaining patients underwent clipping of the recurrent lesions, and one had recoiling. Final outcome was excellent/good in only two patients. The mainly poor outcome after rebleeding was caused by the high incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage.     

Rebleeding after endovascular embolization of ruptured cerebral aneurysms

This study retrospectively reviewed 227 patients with ruptured solitary cerebral aneurysm who underwent endovascular embolization with detachable coils between March 1997 and March 2006 to establish the incidence of rebleeding after endovascular treatment for ruptured cerebral aneurysm and identify the risk factors. The site and size of the aneurysm, the interval between treatment and rebleeding, and the outcome were investigated in six of the 227 patients (2.6%) who rebled after treatment. Four patients had large or giant aneurysms located on the internal carotid artery at the origin of the posterior communicating artery. The interval between treatment and rebleeding was less than 1 year in four patients (mean 394.2 days). Two patients died, and the survivors had modified Rankin Scale scores of 0, 2, 3, and 4. Re-embolization was performed in four patients and no further bleeding occurred during the mean follow-up period of 1.9 years after re-treatment. Patients with giant aneurysms of the internal carotid artery are at increased risk for rebleeding. Re-treatment should be considered if there is conventional and/or magnetic resonance angiographic evidence of dome filling. Patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms must be followed up with diagnostic imaging closely during the first 12 months post-embolization because rebleeding frequently occurs within 1 year after initial treatment. Re-embolization is safe and effective in patients with recurrent hemorrhage from aneurysms previously embolized with detachable coils.     

Clinical and angiographic outcome of intracranial aneurysms treated with Matrix detachable coils in Chinese patients

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm recurrence is an innate problem in endovascular treatment of aneurysms with coils. A coated coil system named Matrix (Boston Scientific Neurovascular, Fremont, CA), covered with a bioabsorbable polymeric material (polyglycolide/lactide copolymer [PGLA]), was developed to accelerate intraaneurysmal clot organization and fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Matrix detachable coils in patients with intracranial aneurysms and aneurysmal recurrence rate. METHODS: In a regional neurosurgical center in Hong Kong, data of patients undergoing endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysm was collected. In a 20-month period, 42 patients with 44 aneurysms were treated by endovascular embolization using matrix coils alone or mixed with bare platinum coils. Thirty-four patients presented with ruptured aneurysms, and 8 patients presented with unruptured aneurysms. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (60%) had 6-month follow-up DSA, and 10 patients (24%) had 18-month follow-up DSA. Seven aneurysm recurrences were identified, amounting to 16% for all aneurysms and 14% for ruptured aneurysms. Four patients were treated by repeated embolization, and 2 patients were treated by microsurgical clipping. Two adverse events due to thromboembolism were noted. One 78-year-old lady with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage treated by partial embolization died from rebleed at day 4. Another patient with partial embolization and spontaneous thrombosis of dorsal wall ICA aneurysm died at 2 months with aneurysm recanalization with rerupture. Twenty-six patients achieved favorable outcome (GOS score 4 or 5) at last follow-up. The aneurysm recurrence rate using bare platinum coils of the same center was 11% and 7% for all aneurysms and ruptured aneurysms, respectively. CONCLUSION: Matrix coil embolization was safe, but there was no reduction in aneurysm recurrence using matrix coils alone or mixed with GDCs, compared with GDCs alone.     

Long term results of ruptured aneurysms treated by coating

We report the long term results of the treatment of 23 intracranial ruptured aneurysms by coating. Twenty-three patients treated by coating were followed for a mean period of 11.2 years. The mean interval between the last hemorrhage and the operation was 22.4 days. Ten aneurysms underwent total coating, 9 with Biobond and 1 with Aron Alpha. Thirteen aneurysms underwent partial coating, 11 with Biobond and 2 with Aron Alpha. Six aneurysms were reinforced partially by other materials, but no aneurysm was wrapped totally with these materials. Rebleeding occurred in 6 patients, of whom 5 died. The mean interval between coating and rebleeding was 4 years. All patients suffering rebleeding had been treated with Biobond, and 3 patients had undergone total coating of aneurysms. The risk of recurrent hemorrhage after total coating with Biobond was 33%. One rebleeding patient underwent a second operation 10.5 years after total coating of the aneurysm. Biobond was found only at the tip of the aneurysmal sac. From these results, reinforcement of ruptured aneurysms with Biobond seems to be of little value, and a more reliable method must be developed for aneurysms that cannot be clipped.     

Endovascular treatment of multiple intracranial aneurysms by using Guglielmi detachable coils

OBJECT: The purpose of this paper is to present the authors' experience with Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) embolization of multiple intracranial aneurysms and to evaluate the results of this therapy in single-stage procedures. METHODS: Clinical and angiographic evaluations were performed in 38 consecutive patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms treated by GDC embolization between March 1990 and October 1997. Twenty-nine patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), four with mass effect, and five were asymptomatic. These 38 patients harbored 101 aneurysms, 79 of which were treated with GDCs, 14 by surgical clipping, and eight were left untreated. Of the GDC-treated lesions, a complete endovascular occlusion was achieved in 55 aneurysms (70%), and 24 (30%) presented neck remnants. Twenty-five patients (66%) underwent GDC embolization of more than one aneurysm in the first session. Eighteen (86%) of 21 patients with acute SAH underwent treatment for all aneurysms within 3 days after admission (15 of 21 in one session). Follow-up angiographic studies in 30 patients demonstrated an unchanged or improved result in 94% of the aneurysms (59 lesions) and coil compaction in 6% (four lesions). The overall clinical outcome was excellent in 34 patients (89%), good in one (3%), fair in one (3%), and death in two (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of multiple intracranial aneurysms, regardless of their location, with GDCs was performed safely in one session, even during the acute phase of SAH. Treatment of all aneurysms in one session protected the patient from rebleeding and eliminated the risk of mistakenly treating only the unruptured aneurysms.     

Long-term clinical and radiologic results of small cerebral aneurysms embolized with 1 or 2 detachable coils

BACKGROUND: Small cerebral aneurysms embolized with only 1 or 2 detachable coils often seem unstable and unsatisfactory. We tried to assess the long-term results of such embolized aneurysms. METHODS: Among 231 intracranial saccular aneurysms embolized at the Asan Medical Center between July 1995 and July 2004, 27 small aneurysms were occluded with only 1 (n = 12) or 2 (n = 15) detachable coils. Clinical and radiologic results were evaluated retrospectively for the involved patients. RESULTS: For the 1- and 2-coiled aneurysms, respectively, the mean dome sizes were 3.0 and 4.6 mm and the mean neck sizes were 1.9 and 2.7 mm. Most of the aneurysms were in the posterior circulation (19/27, 70%) and were found after bleeding (17/27, 63%). At the end of the embolization, complete occlusion in 19 aneurysms, residual neck in 1 aneurysm, and residual aneurysm in 7 aneurysms were attained angiographically. The mean packing ratios were 17.9% and 20.7% for the 1- and 2-coiled aneurysms, respectively. The mean clinical follow-up period of the patients was 41 months. No patient showed evidence of rebleeding; in addition, 1 patient with 1 coil and 2 patients with 2 coils were not followed up after discharge. Among the 10 follow-up DSAs or MRAs acquired after more than 8 months, radiologic major recurrences were detected in 2 patients after 10 and 15 months and second embolizations were done. CONCLUSIONS: Although the 1- and 2-coiled small aneurysms with a relatively low packing ratio seemed unstable, they showed a relatively low incidence of rebleeding and recurrence.     

Transluminal stent-assisted coil embolization of a vertebral confluence aneurysm: technique report

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in stent technology have allowed for negotiation of often tortuous posterior circulation intracranial vasculature. Stent-assisted coil embolization is a novel treatment for complex wide-necked aneurysms, as stents provide a buttress that allows for coil deposition while preventing coil herniation into the parent vessel lumen. We describe a case of stent-assisted coil embolization of a complex wide-necked vertebral confluence aneurysm. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 61-year-old woman presented with a Hunt-Hess III, Fisher Grade III subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a ruptured vertebral confluence aneurysm demonstrated on angiography. The patient underwent emergent angiography and attempted coiling of a vertebral confluence aneurysm. Because of the aneurysm's complex wide neck and the presence of subclavian steal syndrome, the coils repeatedly herniated into the left vertebral and basilar artery lumina. A flexible coronary stent was deployed across the aneurysm neck, preventing coil herniation and allowing for greater coil deposition. The patient tolerated the procedure and underwent repeat coiling 2 months postoperatively because of mild coil compaction. This resulted in 100% occlusion and the patient is neurologically normal except for a sixth nerve palsy which had been present after the hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Recent advances in stent technology allow negotiation of the tortuous posterior circulation vasculature. Stent-assisted coil embolization of complex, wide-necked vertebral confluence aneurysms may be an alternative intervention for these surgically challenging lesions.     

Intraarterial abciximab for treatment of thromboembolism during coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms: outcome and fatal hemorrhagic complications

OBJECT: Experience with intraarterial abciximab for the treatment of thromboembolism during endovascular coil embolization is limited. The authors report the outcome of intraarterial abciximab use, with an emphasis on fatal hemorrhagic complications. METHODS: Between March 2003 and May 2006, the authors treated 606 aneurysms by using endovascular coil embolization, and in 32 (5.3%) of these aneurysms (31 patients) an intraarterial thrombus developed. Sixteen of these aneurysms were ruptured and the other 16 were unruptured. Arterial thrombi were totally occlusive in 3 and partially occlusive in the remaining 29 cases. Intraarterial abciximab was administered at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml as a bolus of 4-15 mg over a period of 15-30 minutes. RESULTS: Complete thrombolysis was achieved in 17 (53%) and partial thrombolysis in 15 (47%) of 32 lesions. Twenty-eight patients (90.3%) were asymptomatic after abciximab thrombolysis, but 3 had postprocedural rebleeding that occurred after abciximab treatment; all of these patients had recently experienced an aneurysm rupture. Of these patients, 1 displayed severe thrombocytopenia and the other 2 showed a > 25% reduction in platelet count after abciximab treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Intraarterial abciximab is effective for the treatment of thromboembolic complications that occur during intracranial aneurysm coil insertion. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to prevent potentially fatal complications such as thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage, especially in patients with a ruptured aneurysm.     

Peripheral aneurysms of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery; analysis of 15 cases]

Peripheral aneurysms of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) are rare. The authors report 15 cases of peripheral PICA aneurysms. Twelve of the aneurysms were discovered after their rupture and two were discovered after rupture of concomitant AVM, and one was detected incidentally. As to the location of aneurysms, more than half of the aneurysms arose at the telovelotonsillar segment. One patient had 2 aneurysms on the same peripheral PICA, which were not obvious on preoperative angiography because the ruptured one was partially thrombosed. Another rare case with aneurysm located at the internal auditory meatus is also reported. The findings of CT were characteristic, namely hemorrhage in the fourth ventricle without obvious hemorrhage in the basal cisterns, or only within the cerebellar vermian cistern. This phenomenon strongly suggested the possibility of rupture of peripheral PICA aneurysms. As to the surgical results, 10 patients (71%) of the 14 patients had a good recovery, and 1 patient (7%) with nonrupture aneurysm had a fair result due to pre-existing pontine hemorrhage. Three patients (21%) died. Rebleeding occurred in 3 patients, but cerebral vasospasm occurred in only 1 patient. Consequently, as peripheral PICA aneurysms are likely to be missed, and rebleeding is an unfavorable factor, one should try to demonstrate aneurysms with angiography, by using various methods such as subtraction or magnification.     

Serial angiography and endovascular treatment of dissecting aneurysms of the anterior cerebral and vertebral arteries. Case report.

This 47-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with disturbance of consciousness due to subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the left anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Conservative treatment resulted in improvement in the patient's consciousness; however, repeated rupture occurred during the chronic stage. Endovascular coil embolization of the parent artery was successful. Serial angiography demonstrated all stages in the development of the aneurysm. Follow-up angiography demonstrated an incidental dissecting aneurysm of the right vertebral artery. This aneurysm was also treated by endovascular embolization. No new neurological deficit appeared during or after the treatment. Multiple dissecting aneurysms are rare, especially those involving both supra- and infratentorial regions. A ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the ACA is also an uncommon vascular disorder. This case shows that rebleeding may occur, even during the chronic stage, and thus appropriate treatment for the prevention of subsequent bleeding is essential. Incidental dissecting aneurysms can be treated using the endovascular technique, but further study is necessary.     

Complementary management of partially occluded aneurysms by using surgical or endovascular therapy

OBJECT: The authors present a series of patients in whom partially occluded aneurysms were retreated using complementary surgical or endovascular therapy. METHODS: During a period of 18 months, 301 patients with intracranial aneurysms were treated using either clip application (171 patients) or endovascular embolization with Guglielmi Detachable Coils ([GDCs] 130 patients). Routine posttreatment angiography studies revealed residual aneurysms in 21 of these patients, nine of whom were retreated using an endovascular or surgical method, with a mean treatment latency of 1.2 months. Four patients underwent primary surgical clip application, whereas five patients experienced GDC packing first. Among patients in the surgical group, the residual aneurysm neck was small and total elimination of the aneurysm was achieved by packing in GDCs. In patients in the endovascular group the authors incompletely packed the aneurysm because of its wide neck or fusiform component in two patients, perforation of a very small aneurysm in one patient, and coil dislocation in another patient. Typical coil compaction occurred in one case. Complete clip application was achieved in all patients. There was no complication in any patient due to the second treatment modality. Final outcome was excellent or good in six and fair in three. CONCLUSIONS: Following clip application or endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms, the use of complementary surgical or endovascular management is successful and associated with low morbidity.     

颅内外动脉狭窄合并颅内动脉瘤同期血管内治疗的效果分析

目的探讨同期治疗颅内外动脉狭窄合并颅内动脉瘤的策略及临床效果。方法回顾性分析2013年4月至2018年9月于北京大学第一医院神经外科行同期血管内治疗的15例颅内外动脉狭窄合并颅内动脉瘤患者的临床资料。男性6例,女性9例,年龄(63.9±9.1)岁(范围:43~79岁);动脉狭窄部位共15处,狭窄程度为75%~95%,其中前循环8处,后循环7处;动脉瘤共17个,最大径(5.3±1.2)mm(范围:3~7 mm),其中前循环动脉瘤11个、后循环动脉瘤6个。患者均行同期动脉狭窄支架成形及动脉瘤栓塞术治疗。记录患者围手术期及术后临床症状、影像学资料及并发症情况。结果15处动脉狭窄均成功置入支架(残余狭窄<30%);17个动脉瘤中,10个行单纯弹簧圈栓塞,7个行支架辅助弹簧圈栓塞,均完全栓塞。围手术期1例患者出现轻微脑梗死症状,其余未发生手术相关并发症。术后随访(43.8±8.2)个月(范围:24~85个月),患者术后6~12个月均复查数字减影血管造影,其中2例出现无症状性支架内再狭窄,所有动脉瘤未见复发。截至末次随访时,患者均未出现颅内出血、缺血性卒中等相关症状。结论颅内外动脉狭窄合并颅内动脉瘤应根据血管狭窄的部位、程度及动脉瘤的大小、形态、位置、数量及两者的位置关系等因素综合分析,制定个体化的治疗策略,给予同期血管内治疗可能是一种安全、有效的治疗方法。     

Immediate and midterm follow-up results of using an electrodetachable, fully retrievable SOLO stent system in the endovascular coil occlusion of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms

OBJECT: Stent-assisted embolization is an alternative endovascular treatment method for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Currently available stents have the limitations of poor radial force, difficult delivery systems, and lack of full retrievability. The authors report on their preliminary experience with the use of a new, fully retrievable, self-expanding neurovascular stent, which has a high radial force and easy delivery system, combined with coil or Onyx embolization for the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms, including 6-month follow-up data. METHODS: Fifteen patients with 18 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated using the SOLO stent system and detachable platinum coils. Aneurysms were located at the posterior communicating artery (seven lesions), midbasilar artery (one lesion), internal carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation (one lesion), ICA-ophthalmic artery segment (eight lesions), and posterior cerebral artery (one lesion). Eleven aneurysms were small, six were large, and one was giant. Only one of these aneurysms was in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage; balloon remodeling alone failed to keep the coils in the aneurysm sac. RESULTS: Only one stent required retrieving and repositioning after it had been fully deployed, and retrieval was easy and successful. No thromboembolic complication, dissection/rupture, or vasospasm occured during stent placement. Follow-up angiograms obtained at 6 months posttreatment in the 18 aneurysms demonstrated that all stents were patent with no evidence of intimal hyperplasia or stenosis. In all cases but one, 100% lesion occlusion was observed at the 6-month control angiography examination. Only one aneurysm had recanalized. CONCLUSIONS: The fully retrievable self-expandible SOLO stent is a feasible, secure, and effective system with a high radial force and ease of delivery in treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms in combination with coil embolization.     

Coil embolization for incidental aneurysms in patients with chronic renal failure: midterm clinical results of two cases

In spite of recent advances in perioperative management, the risk of neurosurgical intervention for patients with chronic renal failure is still considered too high. In this study, coil embolization for incidental aneurysms in such patients is demonstrated in reference to midterm results. A 42-year-old woman with a history of hemodialisis for 7 years presented with subcortical hemorrhage in her right frontal lobe. The magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated a distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm, but it was considered to be unrelated to the hemorrhage. Two and a half months after the hemorrhage the aneurysm was embolized with interlocking detachable coils. Thirty months after embolization, the angiogram revealed the coil compaction and the recanalization of the aneurysm neck. However, 54 months after embolization, the figure of the embolized aneurysm and neck remnant was the same as the previous findings. A 69-year-old woman with a history of hemodialisis for 5 years suddenly experienced left hemiparesis. Computed tomography revealed cerebral infarction in the right frontoparietal white matter. In addition, a left middle cerebral artery aneurysm was unexpectedly found on the MRA. Five months after the onset of the attack, the aneurysm was embolized with a Guglielmi detachable coli. An angiogram obtained 24 months after the embolization showed the aneurysm to be almost completely obliterated. In considering the therapeutic risks and benefits for incidental aneurysms of patients with chronic renal failure, intra-vascular surgery could be recommended as a less invasive treatment.     

Intracranial hemorrhage associated with stent-assisted coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms: a cautionary report

OBJECT: The introduction of the Neuroform microstent has facilitated the embolization of complex cerebral aneurysms, which were previously not amenable to endovascular therapy. Typically, the use of this stent necessitates the administration of dual antiplatelet therapy to minimize thromboembolic complications. Such therapy may increase the risk of hemorrhage in patients who require concurrent external ventricular drainage and/or subsequent permanent cerebrospinal fluid diversion. METHODS: The authors' neurosurgical database was queried for all patients who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization for cerebral aneurysms and who required an external ventricular drain (EVD) or ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement for management of hydrocephalus. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients underwent stent-assisted coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms at the authors' institution over a recent 2-year period. Seven of these patients required placement of an EVD and/or a VP shunt. Three of the 7 patients suffered an immediate intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) associated with placement or manipulation of an EVD; 1 experienced a delayed intraparenchymal hemorrhage and an IVH; 1 suffered an aneurysmal rehemorrhage; and the last patient had a subdural hematoma (SDH) that resulted from placement of a VP shunt. This patient required drainage of the SDH and exchange of the valve. CONCLUSIONS: The necessity of dual antiplatelet therapy in the use of stent-assisted coil embolization increases the risk of intracranial hemorrhage and possibly rebleeding from a ruptured aneurysm. This heightened risk must be recognized when contemplating the appropriate therapy for a cerebral aneurysm and when considering the placement or manipulation of a ventricular catheter in a patient receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. Further study of intracranial procedures in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy is indicated.     

Treatment selection for ruptured aneurysm and outcomes: clipping or coil embolization

The International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial has shown that coil embolization achieves a better outcome for aneurysms treatable by either clipping or coil embolization. However, many ruptured aneurysms are hardly treatable by either clipping or coil embolization. Selection of either clipping or coil embolization will affect the treatment outcome for ruptured aneurysms. The relationship between patient selection and treatment outcome in a so-called "regional center hospital" in Japan must be clarified. This study included 113 patients with ruptured intracranial saccular aneurysms measuring less than 10 mm. Selection criteria for coil embolization were principally paraclinoid or posterior circulation aneurysm, Hunt and Hess grade IV or over, and patient age 75 years or older. Other aneurysms were principally treated by clipping. Aneurysms with a dome/neck ratio of less than 1.5, distorted aneurysms, Hunt and Hess grades I-III, patient age 74 years or younger, and middle cerebral artery aneurysm were actively treated by clipping. A few exceptional indications were considered in detail. Low invasiveness coil embolization is better than clipping to obtain good neurological outcome for patients with perforators difficult to dissect, aneurysms difficult to dissect due to previous open surgery, and aneurysms requiring bilateral open surgery, despite the slightly higher rebleeding rate in coil embolization. Overall outcomes were modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 in 82 of 113 patients (73%) and mRS 3-6 in 31 (27%). Appropriate selection of clipping or coil embolization can achieve acceptable treatment outcomes for ruptured aneurysm.