Various Techniques of Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of Wide-Necked or Fusiform Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms : Initial and Mid-Term Results

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and clinical and angiographic outcomes of stent-assisted embolization for complex middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms.

Methods

The records of 23 consecutive patients with 24 MCA aneurysms, who underwent stent-assisted embolization of the aneurysm, were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

Fifteen aneurysms were treated with one stent and 8 were treated using more than two stents (5 a stent-within-a-stent, 1 triple stents, and two Y-stent). Angiographically, complete or near complete occlusion was achieved in 15 aneurysms (65.2%), residual neck in five (21.7%), and residual aneurysm in three (13.1%). Five aneurysms demonstrated thrombosis within the stent during the procedure and hospitalization, and were resolved by intraarterial and intravenous Tirofiban injection. Symptomatic thromboembolic complications were developed in five patients and permanent deficits demonstrated in two patients with modified Rankin Scale 1 and 2, respectively. Treatment-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 8.3% and 0% with relatively high complication rate. Angiographic follow-up was available in 17 aneurysms at 6-31 months (mean, 13.2 months) and showed stable or improved in 15 (88.2%) and major and minor recurrence in one, respectively.

Conclusion

Complex MCA aneurysms could be treated by stent-assisted coiling and showed lower recanalization rate during mid-term follow-up by effective flow diversion due to various stent-assisted techniques. Our results warrant further study with a longer follow-up period in a larger sample.     

Neuroform Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of a Ruptured A1 Segment Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm

We report a case of a 71-year-old woman who presented with a ruptured wide-necked proximal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysm that was successfully embolized using Neuroform stent-assisted coiling.     

Distal Middle Cerebral Artery M4 Aneurysm Surgery Using Navigation-CT Angiography

Unruptured non-traumatic dissecting aneurysm in the M4 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) accompanied by complete occlusion of the ipsilateral internal cerebral artery (ICA) has never been reported. A 41-year-old man presented with an infarction manifesting as left-sided weakness and dysarthria. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed a subacute stage infarction in the right MCA territory and complete occlusion of the right ICA. Angiography demonstrated aneurysmal dilatation of the M4 segment of the right MCA. Surgery was performed to prevent hemorrhage from the aneurysm. The aneurysm was proximally clipped guided by Navigation-CT angiography and flow to the distal MCA was restored by superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis. We report this rare case with literature review.     

Oculomotor Nerve Palsy Associated with Rupture of Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm

Oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurs usually when oculomotor nerve is compressed by growing or budding of posterior communicating artery (PcoA) aneurysm. Midbrain injury, increased intracranial pressure (ICP), or uncal herniation may also cause it. We report herein a rare case of ONP associated with SAH which was caused by middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysm rupture. A 58-year-old woman with clear consciousness suffered from headache and sudden onset of unilateral ONP. Computed tomography showed SAH caused by the rupture of MCA aneurysm. The unilateral ONP was not associated with midbrain injury, increased ICP, or uncal herniation. The patient was treated with coil embolization, and the signs of oculomotor nerve palsy completely resolved after a few days. We suggest that bloody jet flow from the rupture of distant aneurysm other than PcoA aneurysm may also be considered as a cause of sudden unilateral ONP in patients with SAH.     

Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery Branch Mimicking Aneurysm

A 26-year-old man was admitted to our department due to intermittent left hemiparesis for 3 months. Magnetic resonance image showed subacute infarction in the right precentral gyrus. Digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance angiography revealed an aneurysmal protrusion at the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation. It was difficult to differentiate the aneurysm from the occlusion of the middle trunk of the MCA trifurcation. Brain single photon emission computerized tomography showed a decrease in perfusion in the right posterior frontal lobe without vascular reserve. Therefore, we planned a superficial temporal artery-MCA anastomosis with an exploration of the right MCA bifurcation. Intraoperatively, the aneurysmal opacification on preoperative angiography proved to be the proximal stump of the occluded middle trunk of the MCA trifurcation. An aneurysmal protrusion at the MCA bifurcation does not always indicate an aneurysm. In diagnosing protruding vascular lesions at the MCA bifurcation, the possibility of a vascular stump should be considered according to their angioanatomical appearance and the history of the patient.     

Transbrachial Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of Right Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm: Technical Case Report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We describe a case of stent-assisted coil embolization of a wide neck right posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm via a transbrachial artery approach. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, colon cancer, and osteoporosis presented with a throbbing occipital area headache. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed a wide neck right PICA aneurysm. She presented for a planned endovascular stent-assisted coil embolization. TECHNIQUE: The initial transfemoral approach was complicated by persistent guide catheter instability due to marked tortuosity of the right vertebral artery (VA). The left VA could not be accessed due to left subclavian occlusion with steal syndrome. Neuroform-2 (Boston Scientific; Natick, MA) stent-assisted Matrix (Boston Scientific; Natick, MA) coil embolization was successfully performed through a 6-French guide catheter using a transbrachial approach. CONCLUSION: Current advances in technology produce neuroendovascular devices that are smaller with increased flexibility, allowing nonfemoral vascular access to the cerebral circulation via alternate arterial routes. This patient case demonstrates transbrachial access is a viable approach for endovascular aneurysm coil embolization, with or without stent assistance, in cases with an unstable guide catheter due to tortuous vessels or abnormal anatomy when femoral access is complicated or contraindicated.     

Leo Stent‐Assisted Coil Embolization of a Giant Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm

We report a case of a 70‐year‐old man harboring a wide‐necked thrombosed giant aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) on the M1 segment. The patient presented with generalized tonic‐clonic seizures. A computerized tomography scan showed a calcified aneurysmal wall with perianeurysmal swelling. The aneurysm was successfully embolized using closed‐cell nitinol stent‐assisted coiling (Leo, BALT Co., Montmorency, France).     

Emergency In Situ Bypass during Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Surgery: Middle Cerebral Artery-Superficial Temporal Artery Interposition Graft-Middle Cerebral Artery Anastomosis

Many reports have been published on complications related to middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm surgical clipping procedures. We report an emergency intracranial in situ bypass surgery case which was performed as a rescue procedure after aneurysmal neck laceration during clipping of an MCA large aneurysm. In this case, we performed in situ M3-superficial temporal artery (STA) interposition graft-M3 bypass procedure. If a STA-MCA anastomosis is not available under MCA flow obstruction, we can consider an emergency in situ MCA-MCA bypass procedure with or without an STA interposition graft.     

Fusiform Intracanalicular Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm; Case Report and Review of Literature

A 35-year-old man''s vision had progressively deteriorated over a 3-month period. His left visual acuity was 5/20. Enhanced orbital computed tomographic (CT) scans revealed a fusiform dilatation of the ophthalmic artery in the left optic canal. Cerebral Angiography revealed a fusiform aneurysm on the left ophthalmic artery in the optic canal, measuring 6.2 × 4.6 mm in size. Four days after admission, visual acuity dropped to hand-motion. Endovascular treatment was chosen and a microcatheter was guided into the proximal segment of the ophthalmic artery. Using 4 detachable coils, parent artery occlusion was done. Three months after the intervention, the visual acuity in his left eye improved to 20/20. Dramatic recovery of visual acuity is exceptional with an ophthalmic artery trunk aneurysm. When an occlusion of the proximal ophthalmic artery is the only treatment option in such a situation, the endovascular occlusion of the proximal ophthalmic artery is quite feasible in the sense that it does not require any optic nerve manipulation.     

Cerebral Aneurysm in the Long Fenestration at the Middle Portion of M1 Segment

We report a unique case of bilateral mirror image M1 aneurysms, one of which was an unruptured aneurysm arising from the proximal end of right middle cerebral artery fenestration with long loop and the other ruptured aneurysm from the contralateral side. We clipped ruptured aneurysm first and unruptured one in three months after the first operation. The difficulties of identifying this unusual vascular anomaly and possible problems during the surgery of an aneurysm at the site of fenestration are discussed with a review of the literature.     

破裂大脑中动脉瘤多学科会诊治疗方案疗效评价：单中心261例回顾性分析

目的 比较多学科会诊确定破裂大脑中动脉瘤患者行介入栓塞或手术夹闭动脉瘤的治疗效果。      

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from a Dissecting Aneurysm of the Posterior Cerebral Artery in a Child : Rebleeding after Stent-Assisted Coiling Followed by Stent-Within-Stent Technique

Pediatric patients with dissecting aneurysms usually present with ischemia rather than bleeding. We report a case of a 15-year-old boy with a dissecting aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) presenting with hemorrhage. He was first treated with stent-assisted coil embolization, in an attempt to avoid trapping of the PCA and preserve the perforators. After the procedure, he recovered well from general anesthesia, but rebleeding occurred from the same lesion 6 hours after the procedure, therefore endovascular segmental occlusion of the parent artery was performed secondarily. Apparently, a reconstructive method of stent-assisted coiling is worth trying to preserve the parent vessel and perforators, but it is not always efficient and durable for dissecting aneurysms.     

急性大脑中动脉闭塞机械取栓治疗的观察性研究

目的探讨大脑中动脉急性闭塞后行血管内机械取栓的优化治疗方式及疗效。方法以行血管内机械取栓的大脑中动脉闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者为研究对象,回顾性分析其责任病灶特点、血管内治疗方式、血管开通状况及术后神经功能改善状况。结果连续纳入2014年1月-2016年8月期间于中山市人民医院脑血管介入科行急性大脑中动脉闭塞机械取栓的患者77例,其中M1段闭塞52例(右侧27例,左侧25例),上干闭塞15例,下干闭塞10例。取栓后Solitaire支架释放在狭窄部位17例,合并大脑中动脉严重狭窄应用Gateway球囊扩张6例,局部动脉给予溶栓药物3例。经血管内治疗后,77例大脑中动脉闭塞全部成功开通。术后再灌注出血6例(7.79%),取栓术后因急性脑肿胀行去骨瓣减压术5例(6.49%),术后90 d患者预后良好[改良Rankin量表(modified Rankin Scale,m RS)评分2分]48例(62.34%)。结论大脑中动脉急性闭塞行Solitaire支架急诊取栓可获得满意的再通率及3个月良好预后。     

Fusiform Aneurysm on the Basilar Artery Trunk Treated with Intra-Aneurysmal Embolization with Parent Vessel Occlusion after Complete Preoperative Occlusion Test

Fusiform aneurysms on the basilar artery (BA) trunk are rare. The microsurgical management of these aneurysms is difficult because of their deep location, dense collection of vital cranial nerves, and perforating arteries to the brain stem. Endovascular treatment is relatively easier and safer compared with microsurgical treatment. Selective occlusion of the aneurysmal sac with preservation of the parent artery is the endovascular treatment of choice. But, some cases, particularly giant or fusiform aneurysms, are unsuitable for selective sac occlusion. Therefore, endovascular coiling of the aneurysm with parent vessel occlusion is an alternative treatment option. In this situation, it is important to determine whether a patient can tolerate parent vessel occlusion without developing neurological deficits. We report a rare case of fusiform aneurysms in the BA trunk. An 18-year-old female suffered a headache for 2 weeks. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance image revealed a fusiform aneurysm of the lower basilar artery trunk. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a 7.1×11.0 mm-sized fusiform aneurysm located between vertebrovasilar junction and the anterior inferior cerebellar arteries. We had good clinical result using endovascular coiling of unruptured fusiform aneurysm on the lower BA trunk with parent vessel occlusion after confirming the tolerance of the patient by balloon test occlusion with induced hypotension and accompanied by neurophysiologic monitoring, transcranial Doppler and single photon emission computed tomography. In this study, we discuss the importance of preoperative meticulous studies for avoidance of delayed neurological deficit in the patient with fusiform aneurysm on lower basilar trunk.     

Ruptured Saccular Aneurysm Arising from Fenestrated Proximal Anterior Cerebral Artery : Case Report and Literature Review

The aneurysm arising from fenestrated proximal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) is considered to be unique. The authors report a case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) secondary to a ruptured aneurysm originating from the fenestrated A1 segment of right ACA. The patient had another unruptured aneurysm which was located at the right middle cerebral artery bifurcation. She was successfully treated with surgical clipping for both aneurysms. From the previously existing literatures, we found 18 more cases (1983-2011) of aneurysms associated with fenestrated A1 segment. All cases represented saccular type of aneurysms, and 79% of the patients had SAH. There were three subtypes of the fenestrated A1 aneurysms depending on the anatomical location, relative to the fenestrated segment. The most common type was the aneurysms located on the proximal end of fenestrated artery (82%). Azygos ACA and hypoplastic A1 were frequently accompanied by the aneurysm (33% and 31%, respectively), and multiple aneurysms were shown in three cases (16%). Considering that fenestrated A1 segment is likely to develop an aneurysm, which has high risk of rupture, early management may benefit patients with aneurysms accompanied by fenestrated proximal ACA.     

Hemifacial Spasm Caused by Fusiform Aneurysm at Vertebral Artery-Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Junction

Hemifacial spasm induced by intracranial aneurysm is a rare clinical condition. A 45-year-old male patient presented with a 3-year history of progressive involuntary twitching movement on right face. On radiological study, a dilated vascular lesion compressing the brain stem was found at the junction of vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery. On operative field, we found the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the fusiform aneurysm compressing root exit zone of facial nerve. Microvascular decompression was performed and the facial symptom was relieved without complications.     

Temporary Semi-Jailing Technique for Coil Embolization of Wide-Neck Aneurysm with Small Caliber Parent Artery Following Incomplete Clipping

The authors describe the use of a self-expandable stent in a temporary deployment for treatment of a very wide-neck A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysm following incomplete clipping. A 39-year-old hypertensive man presenting with seizure-like movement underwent computed tomography, which showed acute subarachnoid hemorrhage and an A1 segment of ACA aneurysm with superior and inferior projection. He underwent surgical clipping of the aneurysm, but superior and posterior portion of wide-neck aneurysm remained. We decided to treat the remnant aneurysm using an endovascular modality. After selection of the aneurysm, coil packing was performed assisted by the temporary semi-jailing technique. The Enterprise stent (Cordis Neurovascular, Miami, FL, USA) was deployed and recaptured repeatedly for angiography to ensure safety of the small caliber parent artery. Successful semi-deployment and recapture of the stent allowed subtotal coil occlusion of the aneurysm with good anatomic and clinical results. No complications were encountered. The stent could be recaptured up to the point where the proximal end of the stent marker was aligned with distal marker band of the microcatheter, approximately 70% of the stent length. The temporary semi-jailing technique is feasible for wide-neck aneurysm with small caliber parent artery.     

支架辅助弹簧圈栓塞治疗前交通动脉宽颈动脉瘤

目的 分析支架辅助弹簧圈栓塞治疗前交通动脉宽颈动脉瘤的安全性和有效性.方法 该回顾性研究纳入昆明医科大学第二附属医院脑血管病科2016年7月-2020年7月经DSA诊断的应用支架辅助栓塞治疗的前交通动脉宽颈动脉瘤患者.收集所有患者的临床相关资料,评价支架辅助栓塞治疗的疗效和安全性.治疗技术指标采用术后即刻DSA Ray...