Therapeutic endovascular treatments for traumatic vertebral artery injuries

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic vertebral artery injuries pose difficulty in early diagnosis and management because of concomitant neurologic dysfunction and limitations in direct surgical access. The purpose of this report is to review endovascular therapy in patients with traumatic vertebral artery injuries for preservation of the parent artery, and to determine the safety and efficacy of such endovascular therapy. METHODS: Six patients with traumatic vertebral artery lesions were treated using therapeutic endovascular methods. Endovascular therapy was accomplished by stent insertion or coil embolization or both. RESULTS: Except one patient who underwent coil embolization of a transected vertebral artery, all dissections and pseudoaneurysms were successfully treated by stent placement or stent-assisted coiling with preservation of parent arteries. No additional surgical procedures for vascular lesions were required. There were no delayed neurologic or vascular complications and no lesions recurred during the follow-up period (mean, 36.7 months). CONCLUSION: The author's experience demonstrates that endovascular therapy using stents and coils is both feasible and safe in the treatment of traumatic vertebral artery injuries. Endovascular therapy selectively eliminated the vascular abnormality while maintaining the normal patency of the cerebral arteries. Long-term follow-up review of these repairs will be necessary to provide a full evaluation of the safety and efficacy of these devices.     

Clinical application of endovascular grafts in aortoiliac occlusive disease and vascular trauma

Intravascular stents and stented grafts are becoming important tools for the management of a variety of vascular lesions. This review addresses the technical feasibility and early results of aortoiliac endovascular reconstructions for limb salvage as well as the placement of stented grafts for the treatment of traumatic arterial lesions. Eighteen patients with limb-threatening ischemia secondary to aortoiliac and femoropopliteal occlusive disease who were poor candidates for standard arterial bypass operations and eight patients with traumatic arterial lesions (two arteriovenous fistulas; six pseudoaneurysms) were treated with endovascular stented grafts. These were constructed of 6-mm tubular polytetrafluoroethylene (GORE-TEX) and balloon-expandable stents (Palmaz). Technical success was achieved in 95% of grafts placed to treat long segment occlusive disease of the iliofemoral arteries and in 100% of grafts placed to treat traumatic arterial injuries. There were no deaths and only minor complications in both groups. Although the early results with these grafts are encouraging, long-term follow-up is needed before such devices can be recommended for widespread use.     

The utility of endovascular stents in the treatment of blunt arterial injuries.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this review is to evaluate our institutional experience with percutaneously placed vascular stents in multiply injured patients with blunt arterial injuries. METHODS: Patients were identified through our trauma registry from 9/95 through 12/99. All injuries were diagnosed by angiography. Palmaz and Wallstent prostheses were used. RESULTS: Six patients had blunt arterial injuries. Age ranged from 20 to 67 years (average, 45). Each patient had one or more stents placed. There were no immediate complications related to stent placement. There were no deaths or complications attributable to stent placement. All of the patients survived to leave the hospital. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 2 years with no occlusion, stenosis, or stent malfunction. CONCLUSION: The use of interventional angiography and endovascular stenting is safe and efficacious in treating arterial injuries in certain circumstances.     

血管内治疗外伤性颈内动脉损伤

目的探讨血管内治疗对外伤性颈内动脉损伤的临床价值。方法16例外伤性颈内动脉损伤患者,经DSA造影证实为假性动脉瘤3例、岩部巨大蛇性动脉瘤及颈内动脉起始部动脉瘤各1例以及颈内动脉海绵窦瘘11例,分别采用可脱落球囊、电解可脱式弹簧圈（GDC）或带膜内支架对损伤部位进行动脉内栓塞治疗。结果对3例假性动脉瘤及1例岩部巨大蛇性动脉瘤患者以可脱落球囊闭塞患侧颈内动脉成功。9例颈内动脉海绵窦瘘（CCF）在保持颈内动脉通畅的情况下采用球囊成功栓塞瘘口,1例CCF予以GDC填塞海绵窦;其余1例CCF两次球囊栓塞均失败,但术后24h患侧凸眼明显回缩,间断按压患侧颈内动脉1周后患者临床症状和体征消失。1例颈内动脉起始部动脉瘤行带膜内支架成功植入,动脉瘤被旷置,颈内动脉保持通畅。结论血管内治疗是外伤性颈内动脉损伤安全有效的治疗方法。     

Treatment of spontaneous arterial dissections with stent placement for preservation of the parent artery

Summary Background. A wide variety of treatment regimens have been advocated for dissections involving the intracranial arteries. Recently, the stent can be used to exclude the aneurysm from the circulation and preserve the parent artery. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of stent angioplasty for intracranial arterial dissections.Methods. Ten patients with spontaneous dissections, nine vertebral artery and one internal carotid artery lesions underwent endovascular treatment using stent placement as primary treatment modality. One stent placement was attempted in five patients initially. Three patients were intentionally treated with two overlapping stents which completely covered the aneurysm orifice. Two tandem stents were used in one patient to allow spanning the entire length of the dissection. Stent-assisted coil embolization was performed in one patient.Results. Of the 10 patients in whom stenting was tried, the overall success in reaching the target lesion with stents was 90%. Of the 9 patients treated with stents, stent release and positioning were considered optimal in 7 patients (77.8%) and suboptimal in two. Lesions of 8 patients were improved or stable in angiographic follow-up. However, one pseudo-aneurysm was enlarged, and subsequently, was treated by proximal occlusion using coils. There were no instances of postprocedural ischaemic attacks, new neurological deficits, and no new minor or major strokes prior to patient discharge. All parent arteries of the patient who underwent the successful procedure were preserved. On the modified Rankin scale used for the follow up, all patients were assessed as functionally improved or of stable clinical status.Conclusions. The success in reducing dissection-induced stenosis or pseudo-aneurysm, the patency rate obtained at follow-up, and the lack of strokes (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) suggest that stent placement offers a viable alternative to complex surgical procedures or deconstructive procedures. The long-term efficacy and durability of stent placement for arterial dissection remains to be determined in a large series.     

锁骨下动脉阻塞支架置入50例临床分析

目的探讨腔内支架置入治疗锁骨下动脉闭塞症的临床疗效。方法2001年5月~2006年4月,我院采用腔内支架置入治疗锁骨下动脉闭塞50例53支病变。45例经股动脉顺行,5例经腋动脉逆行支架置入。7例伴有颈动脉或椎动脉严重狭窄同期行支架置入。结果术后患肢血压测定均较术前明显提高,患/健侧血压指数由术前0.69±0.12提高至术后0.98±0.11(t=9.731,P=0.000)。43例随访3~60个月,平均14.5月,锁骨下动脉再狭窄率(>50%)11.6%(5/43)。结论腔内介入支架治疗锁骨下动脉严重狭窄和闭塞是一种安全、有效的方法,为临床首选。     

Carotid artery stents for blunt cerebrovascular injury: risks exceed benefits

BACKGROUND: Carotid stenting has been advocated in patients with grade III blunt carotid artery injuries (hereafter referred to as "blunt CAIs") because of the persistence of the pseudoaneurysm and concern for subsequent embolization or rupture. HYPOTHESIS: Carotid stenting is safe and effective for blunt CAIs. DESIGN: Analysis of a prospective database of all patients with blunt CAIs. SETTING: A state-designated, level I, urban trauma center.Patients and METHODS: In January 1, 1996, we initiated comprehensive screening for blunt CAIs with angiography based on injury patterns. Patients without contraindications receive anticoagulation therapy immediately for documented lesions. Patients with persistent pseudoaneurysms on a second angiography at 7 to 10 days after injury are candidates for stent placement. RESULTS: During the study period (January 1, 1996, to May 1, 2004), 46 patients sustained blunt carotid pseudoaneurysms; 23 (50%) underwent carotid stent placement. There were 4 complications in patients undergoing carotid stent placement: 3 strokes and 1 subclavian dissection. Follow-up angiography was performed in 38 patients (18 patients with stents who received antithrombotic agents, 20 patients who received antithrombotic agents alone); 8 patients had poststent carotid occlusion despite having received concurrent anticoagulation therapy. Carotid occlusion rates were significantly different (45% in patients with stents vs 5% in those who received antithrombotic agents alone). In the patients not undergoing stent placement, the only complication was a middle cerebral artery stroke in a patient not treated with antithrombotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have carotid stents placed for blunt carotid pseudoaneurysms have a 21% complication rate and a documented occlusion rate of 45%. In contrast, patients treated with antithrombotic agents alone had an occlusion rate of 5%; no asymptomatic patient treated with antithrombotic agents for their injury had a stroke. Antithrombotic therapy remains the recommended therapy for blunt CAIs, but the role of intraluminal stents remains to be defined.     

Traumatic aneurysm of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery and an associated carotid-cavernous fistula: vascular reconstruction performed using intravascular implantation of stents and coils. Case report

This report documents the treatment of a traumatic aneurysm of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) that was associated with a carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF), which appeared following closed head trauma. This life-threatening lesion, which is very rare, required aggressive management achieved using intravascular stents and coils. A 19-year-old man presented with severe traumatic intracerebral and subarachnoid hematoma after he had suffered a severe closed head injury in a motor vehicle accident. Cerebral angiography performed 11 days after the injury demonstrated a traumatic aneurysm and severe narrowing of the right supraclinoid ICA, which was consistent with a dissection-induced stenosis associated with a direct CCF. Both lesions were successfully obliterated with preservation of the parent artery by using stents in conjunction with coils. Follow-up angiography obtained 7 months postoperatively revealed persistent obliteration of the aneurysm and CCF as well as patency of the parent artery. The patient remained asymptomatic during the clinical follow-up period of 14 months. Endovascular treatment involving the use of a stent combined with coils appears to be a feasible, minimally invasive option for treatment of this hard-to-treat lesion.     

Endovascular treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction

The treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been a fascination involving multiple medical specialities over the past century with urologic, cardiac and surgical experts all contributing knowledge toward this multifactorial disease. With the well-described association between ED and cardiovascular disease, angiography has been utilized to identify vasculogenic impotence. Given the success of endovascular drug-eluting stent (DES) placement for the treatment of coronary artery disease, there has been interest in using this same technology for the treatment of vasculogenic ED. For men with inflow stenosis, DES placement to bypass arterial lesions has recently been reported with a high technical success rate. Comparatively, endovascular embolization as an approach to correct veno-occlusive dysfunction has produced astonishing procedural success rates as well. However, after a thorough literature review, arterial intervention is only recommended for younger patients with isolated vascular injuries, typically from previous traumatic experiences. Short-term functional outcomes are less than optimal with long-term results yet to be determined. In conclusion, the hope for a minimally invasive approach to ED persists but additional investigation is required prior to universal endorsement.     

Combined endovascular stent implantation and coil embolization for the treatment of a vertebro-basilar fusiform aneurysm: technical case report

We describe a case of the combined application of endovascular stent implantation and Guglielmi detachable coil packing for the treatment of a vertebro-basilar fusiform aneurysm and review the literature on stent placement to treat cerebral aneurysms. A 70-year-old female presented with an acute headache from subarachnoid hemorrhage. A fusiform aneurysm with a broad-based neck and dome, measuring 15 mm, involving the union of the vertebral arteries and the proximal basilar artery was demonstrated on cerebral angiography. The aneurysm was judged to be inoperable and treated conservatively. Twelve days later the patient was transferred to our hospital for endovascular therapy. An intravascular stent (MultiLink) was placed across the base of the aneurysm through the right vertebral artery. After this, coil placement in the aneurysm around the stent was performed via a microcatheter guided from the left vertebral artery. After that a microcatheter was guided from the right vertebral artery through the interstices of the stent into the aneurysm, and additional coils were placed. Final angiography showed subtotal occlusion of the aneurysm and excellent blood flow of the parent artery through the stent. There were no new neurological deficits. Neither rerupture nor ischemic event has occurred. The use of stents provides another treatment for managing the difficult entity of intracranial aneurysms.     

Five-year experience with endovascular grafts for the treatment of aneurysmal, occlusive and traumatic arterial lesions.

Standard therapy for most aneurysmal, occlusive, and traumatic arterial lesions has historically consisted of surgical exposure and repair or placement of an interposition bypass graft. Endovascular grafting techniques are an alternative treatment. These techniques blend stent and graft technology and enable a vascular graft to be placed from a remote access site under fluoroscopic guidance to treat a variety of arterial lesions. The major advantage of this approach is its less invasive nature. During the last 5 years, 234 endovascular grafts have been implanted at Montefiore Medical Center to treat a variety of arterial lesions including aneurysms, occlusions and traumatic or iatrogenic injuries. Although many of these procedures were complex and difficult, results have improved steadily as appropriate devices, techniques and indications have been developed. These endovascular grafts have facilitated successful treatment in many patients and have permitted correction of limb- or life-threatening lesions in some patients who would otherwise be impossible or difficult to treat. Based on this 5-year experience, it is likely that endovascular grafts will play an important role in the future treatment of various types of arterial pathology. Although the value and limitations of endovascular graft for the treatment of aneurysmal and occlusive lesions in good-risk patients remains to be precisely defined, their usage in high-risk patients and in those with iliac aneurysms and central artery traumatic false aneurysms and arteriovenous fistula already appears justified.     

Extremities--indications and techniques for treatment of extremity vascular injuries

Traumatic vascular injuries involving the extremity are rare and penetrating trauma accounts for the majority of such injuries. The remaining arterial injuries are as a result of either blunt or iatrogenic injuries. The rapid detection, localisation and characterisation of vascular injuries in patients who have a traumatic extremity injury is essential for the effective management and treatment of such injuries. This review will discuss the expanding role of multi-detector computed tomography angiography in diagnosing vascular injuries and its implications on conventional diagnostic angiography. The roles of other non-invasive imaging modalities are reviewed. The presentation and types of vascular injuries in blunt and penetrating injuries are discussed. While surgery remains the gold standard in the management of vascular extremity injuries it has significant morbidity rates. Endovascular techniques are increasingly being used for the treatment of vascular traumatic injuries and various techniques including balloon occlusion, embolisation and stent/stent graft placement are discussed.     

血管腔内支架植入术的临床应用

目的 评价应用血管内支架治疗血管性疾病的临床价值。方法 对36例患有血管性疾病的患者施行了血管内支架植入术，包括胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤24例，腹主动脉真性动脉瘤3例，腹主动脉夹层动脉瘤1例，颈动脉动静脉瘘1例，左锁骨下动脉狭窄1例，左锁骨下动静脉瘘1例，髂动脉假性动脉瘤4例及股动脉狭窄1例。除1例左锁骨下动脉狭窄患者、1例股动脉狭窄患者使用了裸支架外，其余34例患者均采用带膜支架进行血管内治疗。结果 术中所有患者均未出现特殊不适，术后随访期间未见明显合并症发生。所有患者均完全消除了临床症状。结论 应用血管内支架治疗血管性疾病是一种实用且效果较好的治疗方法。     

钝性外伤后胸主动脉扩张性病变的临床分析

目的 总结钝性外伤后胸主动脉扩张性病变诊疗经验.方法 回顾性分析12例钝性外伤后胸主动脉扩张性病变的临床资料,其中主动脉夹层(Stanford B型)8例以及降主动脉假性动脉瘤4例.术前螺旋CT血管造影及术中数字血管减影造影对病变进行评估,待严重合并症稳定后行腔内支架型人工血管植入术.术后3、6、12个月以及其后每年随访CTA明确治疗效果.结果 11例行腔内支架型人工血管植入术,另1例未及手术死亡.所有手术患者均获技术成功,完全或部分遮蔽左锁骨下动脉6例,支架释放后即刻造影发现内漏3例,2例球囊扩张后内漏消失,1例仅给予随访.共9例获随访(B型主动脉夹层6例、降主动脉假性动脉瘤3例),均正常生存,未出现左上肢缺血症状及神经系统阳性体征,CTA检查示近远端主动脉无新发夹层或动脉瘤,无内漏、截瘫以及支架移位等并发症.结论 钝性外伤后胸主动脉损伤多位于主动脉峡部,待重要脏器合并症稳定后行腔内支架型人工血管治疗有效可行,安全性高.     

Mid-term results of conservative, conventional and endovascular treatment for acute traumatic aortic lesions.

BACKGROUND: To analyze our results after conservative, conventional and endovascular treatment for acute traumatic aortic lesions during the last decade. METHODS: From June 1993 to September 2004, a total of 19 patients with traumatic aortic lesions were referred to our department. All patients sustained injuries from blunt deceleration trauma. In hemodynamically stable patients, initial evaluation was by multi-slice CT scan. The diagnosis of traumatic aortic injury was confirmed and an individual treatment strategy was determined. In hemodynamically unstable patients, emergency thoracotomy was performed. RESULTS: An emergency thoracotomy was performed in seven (37%) patients. Mortality in this group was 100%. In the remaining group of 12 (63%) patients without hemodynamic instability at time of admission, in-hospital mortality was 0%. Treatment was surgical in five patients (26%), endovascular in five (26%) and conservative in two patients (11%). Mean follow-up was 63 months (5-108 months). No patient died during follow-up. In patients treated by endovascular stent-graft placement no signs of endoleaks could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic stability and an individual treatment strategy are prerequisites for survival of acute traumatic aortic lesions. Endovascular stent-graft placement has emerged as an innovative and minimally invasive therapeutic option in this polytraumatic high-risk patient cohort.     

腔内支架技术治疗自发性孤立性肠系膜上动脉夹层

目的探讨腔内支架技术治疗自发性孤立性肠系膜上动脉夹层（spontaneous isolated dissection of superior mesenteric artery,SIDSMA）的安全性及有效性。方法回顾性分析2009年1月～2011年4月16例接受血管腔内支架治疗的SIDSMA的临床资料。结果均手术顺利,12例行单层裸支架释放,4例行双层裸支架释放。术后腹痛症状改善15例,无变化1例。术后6个月CTA复查,16例均支架通畅,14例假腔消失,2例支架外造影剂显影。结论对于未合并夹层破裂出血、肠坏死的症状性SIDSMA,腔内支架治疗是一种安全、有效、微创的治疗选择。     

Endovascular treatment of the descending thoracic aorta.

OBJECTIVES: to report our initial experience with endovascular stent graft repair of a variety of thoracic aortic pathology. DESIGN: retrospective single center study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: between February 2000 and January 2002, endovascular stent graft repair was performed in 26 patients: traumatic aortic isthmus rupture (n=3), Type B dissection (n=11) and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (n=12). The deployed stent graft systems were AneuRx-Medtronic (n=1), Talent-Medtronic (n=13) and Excluder-Gore (n=12). RESULTS: successful deployment of the stent grafts in the intended position was achieved in all patients. No hospital mortality neither paraplegia were observed. Late, non procedure related, death occurred in four patients (15%). Access artery complications with rupture of the iliac artery occurred in two patients and were managed by iliac-femoral bypass. The left subclavian artery was overstented in seven patients (27%). Only the first patient received a carotido-subclavian bypass. The mean maximal aortic diameter decreased significantly in patients treated for descending thoracic aneurysm. Only one patient had an endoleak type II after 6 months without enlargement of the aneurysm. Complete thrombosis of the thoracic false lumen occurred in all but one patient treated for Type B dissection 6 months postoperatively. Two patients underwent a consecutive stent graft placement, due to a large re-entry tear distal to the first stent graft. CONCLUSIONS: endovascular stent graft repair for Type B dissection, descending thoracic aneurysm and aortic isthmus rupture is a promising less-invasive alternative to surgical repair. Further studies are mandatory to determine its long-term efficacy.     

Die stentgestützte Aneurysmaausschaltung mit dem TALENT-System

Introduction The TALENT system has made it feasible for the first time to use endovascular stent placement in the treatment of infrarenal aneurysms of the abdominal aorta with neck diameters greater than 26 mm. The following paper presents the experience of 29 German vascular surgical centers using the TALENT system. Materials and Methods Between October 1996 and September 1997, a total of 123 aortic aneurysms in 122 patients were treated endovascularly. Ninety-five infrarenal aneurysms of the abdominal aorta were treated using bifurcated stents, while in 28 cases tube stents were implanted. In nine cases, tube stents were used to treat aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. A total of 111 patients (112 aneurysms) presented for follow-up. The average proximal diameter of the bifurcated stents in infrarenal aneurysms was 30 mm (range 24–36 mm), while the average iliac stent diameter was 14 mm (range: 10–20 mm). In tube stents, diameters ranged from 24–30 mm in abdominal stents and from 32–40 mm in thoracic stents, respectively. In this series, each stent was individually manufactured for the patient on the basis of findings from computed tomography (CT) and calibrated angiography. Results Endovascular treatment of aneurysms was successful technically in 96% of patients. During a follow-up period averaging 4.3 months, the following complications were observed: 5 perioperative death (4.1%), 4 conversions to open surgical therapy (3.3%), 7 endoleaks (5.7%), 2 stent dislocations, 2 iliac stent thromboses, 2 perforations of iliac arteries, 1 inguinal hematoma, and 1 inguinal infection. Conclusions These preliminary findings show that aneurysms with larger neck diameters are amenable to endovascular treatment. Despite the wide distribution of participating vascular surgery centers with varying degrees of experience and many first-time implantations, the results of the present multicenter study hardly differed from those reported in larger series in established institutions. Through the use of larger-diameter stents, up to 50% of all infrarenal aneurysms of the abdominal aorta may be possibly successfully treated using endovascular methods.     

Endovascular repair as first-choice treatment of iliac pseudoaneurysms following renal transplantation

Pseudoaneurysms of the arterial anastomosis are rare complications of renal transplantation. We report three cases of patients with extrarenal pseudoaneurysms and describe their treatment by endovascular placement of covered stents. Two of these aneurysms were due to vascular infections by fungi. An 8-week antifungal therapy proved to be successful in preventing the risk of fungal infection of the graft material in both patients. All three of our grafts remained open 2 months to 3 years after their placement with no evidence of stenosis or infection.     

Midterm experience with the endovascular treatment of isolated iliac aneurysms.

PURPOSE: This report describes our 5-year experience with the endovascular repair of isolated iliac aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms. METHODS: Between June 1993 and July 1998, 40 isolated iliac aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms were treated with endovascular grafts in 39 patients. Thirty-seven aneurysms were treated with endovascular grafts composed of polytetrafluoroethylene grafts and balloon expandable stents, and the other three underwent repair with a polycarbonate urethane endoluminal graft. RESULTS: All the patients underwent initially successful endovascular treatment of isolated iliac aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms and were followed from 1 to 51 months (mean, 18 months). The 4-year primary patency rate was 94.5% +/- 10%. The perioperative complications included one episode of distal embolization, an episode of colonic ischemia, five episodes of kinking or compression of the endovascular graft, and one early postoperative graft thrombosis. There was only one perioperative death in a patient whose aneurysm ruptured in the operating room just before endovascular repair. The median postoperative length of hospital stay was 3.0 +/- 1.3 days in this group of patients at moderate and high risk. The long-term complications included one graft thrombosis and two endoleaks. One small endoleak was followed until the patient died of unrelated causes, and the other one led to aneurysm rupture in the only patient temporarily lost to follow-up examination. This patient successfully underwent treatment in the standard open surgical fashion. To date, all the other aneurysms have remained stable or have decreased in size during the follow-up examinations with duplex or contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scans. CONCLUSION: Endovascular repair of iliac aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms is a safe and effective technique with good midterm results in patients at standard and high risk. These grafts are particularly beneficial for patients with medical, surgical, or anatomic contraindications for open surgical repair.